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ear to the ground, have one's

ear to the ground, have one's idiom
Also, keep one's ear to the ground. Be or remain well informed; be on the watch for new trends and information. For example, She knew she'd succeed as a reporter if she kept her ear to the ground. This graphic expression probably alludes to listening for distant hoofbeats by putting one's ear close to the ground. [Late 1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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