prick

autem prickear

obsolete One who dissents from the teachings of any given denomination of the (Christian) church. "Autem" is an obsolete slang word for church, and "prick-eared" was a slang term often applied to puritans, who dissented from the Church of England. Ah, let the autem prickears go and form their own church rather than change our own.

never a rose without a/the prick

There is rarely a good or positive thing, event, or circumstance that is not accompanied by something negative or unpleasant (i.e., just as a rose has thorns). A: "I can't believe the amount of taxes I have to pay on my lottery winnings!" B: "Never a rose without the prick, eh?"

policy of pin pricks

A government policy that is regarded as particularly petty. The phrase was first applied to tense relations between England and France at the end of the 19th century. How long do we have to suffer under this policy of pin pricks before they finally repeal it?

be like a spare prick at a wedding

slang To feel awkward and out of place at an event. Primarily heard in UK. I don't know anyone here, so I've been like a spare prick at a wedding, just standing in the corner by myself.

prick up its ears

and prick up one's ears

Fig. [for an animal or a person] to become attentive. (The animal will adjust its ears toward the sound.) The sound made the dog prick its ears up. When Fred heard his name, he pricked up his ears. She pricked her ears up when she heard her name.

See also: ear, prick, up

prick your ears up

also prick up your ears

to listen carefully If you hear my name mentioned, prick up your ears – I want to know what you find out.

See also: ear, prick, up

kick against the pricks

(British & Australian literary)

to fight against people in authority People in this country tend to follow rather than lead. It takes courage to kick against the pricks.

prick somebody's conscience

to make someone feel guilty Seeing pictures of starving children pricks my conscience, but I rarely give money to charity.

prick your ears up

(informal)

to start to listen carefully to what someone is saying, often because you think you may find out something interesting

Usage notes: Many animals prick up (= raise) their ears when they hear something.

Eve pricked her ears up when she heard her name being mentioned.

See also: ear, prick, up

be like a spare prick at a wedding

(British taboo, humorous)

to feel silly because you are present at an event but no one needs you and no one is talking to you Everyone else there had come with their partners and I was left feeling like a spare prick at a wedding.

prick up one's ears

Listen carefully, pay close attention, as in When she heard them mention her boyfriend she pricked up her ears. This term alludes to horses raising their ears at a sudden noise. [Late 1500s]

See also: ear, prick, up

prick

1. n. the penis. (Usually objectionable.) He held his hands over his prick and ran for the bedroom.

2. n. a stupid or obnoxious male. (Usually objectionable.) You stupid prick! Get out of here!

prick up (one's) ears

To listen with attentive interest.

See also: ear, prick, up

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Evdokia	-	Greek
Petera	-	Maori
Amarante	-	French (Rare)
Heidi	HIE-dee (German, English), HAY-dee (Finnish)	German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, English
Tanner	['tænə]
Edison	ED-i-sən	English