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A Word in Your Shell-Like Ear

Meanings of “A Word in Your Shell-Like Ear”

The phrase means let me tell you something privately or secretly. In the phrase, ‘Shell-Like’ is used as an adjective for ears. A person using this phrase usually wants to share information that he does not want to share with anyone. It is also used when the speaker wants to save the listener from an embarrassing situation. It could be used in the sense of a whisper.

In London, the phrase used as a slang ‘A word in your shell-like’ without add the word ‘ear’ which also means the same. There are additional two short forms of the phrase – A word in your ear and A word in your shell-like. All the variations of phrases can be interpreted as ‘I’d like to talk to you (privately).

Origin of “A Word in Your Shell-Like Ear”

Its earliest use has been traced back to the year 1827 in a romantic poem of Thomas Hood titled as “Bianca’s Dream.” The poem has used the last part of the phrase.

“This, with more tender logic of the kind,
He pour’d into her small and shell-like ear,
That timidly against his lips inclin’d;
Meanwhile her eyes glanced on the silver sphere.”

Another use is traced to be in Mckean County Miner; a Pennsylvania based paper cited it in its publication of 1878.

“Without a word he clasped Miss Patterson in his arms. ‘My darling!’ was all he said. She struggled to free herself, strongly at first: but as he whispered something in the crimson shell-like ear close to his trembling lips, the pretty head sank upon his shoulder…”

Examples in Literature

Example #1

A Word in Your Shell-Like Ear by Nigel Rees

This is a dictionary or thesaurus type of informative book in which more than 6,000 such phrases have been explained. The author, Nigel Rees, who is a lexicographer of note, traced their origin, incidents related to them and their first usages. These phrases include titles, clichés, slangs, nicknames, quotations, and idiomatic phrases. Although there are many other books in the market, it seems to be a replacement of the old Brewer’s book titled as Phrase and Fable. The book has highlighted many extinct and new phrases and traced their origins, which makes it a unique book of this type. However, it is quite interesting that this book has not given many origins and etymological roots of its title.

Example #2

From the third chapter of The Public Property by Michael Ferres

“Yes, I know. Look, I know it’s Sunday, and I’m interfering with one of your rare moments of domestic felicity, and I’m a dreadful nuisance and a bore, but if you could just let me pour a few words in your shell-like ear for about five minutes, I’m sure you will agree this is a beauty.”

“What’s wrong with Len? He’s very competent editor.”

Craig sighted into the phone. “Well, quite frankly, I don’t think Len would put it in.”

“Then perhaps it’s a bad story.” There was silence at Craig’s end – sad, patient – and then Mr. Penley resumed, “All right. Go on.”

The paragraph highlights the conversation of Mr. Craig and Mr. Penley, two major characters involved in this section. Mr. Craig is sharing the details of the new editor that Mr. Penley is going to employ. The phrase has been used in the sense that Mr. Craig would first give some detail to Mr. Penely. In fact, he is asking Mr. Penley to give full attention to him for five minutes so that he can discuss the details with him. It means that the phrase has been used in the sense of demanding full attention without getting distracted.

Example #3

A Spanish Love Song by Mason Carnes

Each is laden with my love,
Isabel.

Each one bears to thee above
Incense from an inmost shrine,
Tokens from my heart to thine
Isabel.

“Love me,” whispers every one,
Isabel.

“Love me, love me but alone.”
In your shell-like ear there steal
Tiding of the love I feel.
Isabel.

Do these love-notes reach thy heart,
Isabel.

Do they make it trembling start
With a thrill of warm delight,
Or but meet with cold despite,
Isabel.

Mason Carnes has written this song to express the love for Isabel. The singer asks Isabel, his beloved, whether his love notes reach her ears or not. The phrase has been used in the sense of whether she pays attention to his love notes or not. The phrase has been used in the second stanza where he has preferably used the shell-like ears as the subject instead of as the object of the hearing. Therefore, it is a bit adjustment in the phrase that Mason Carnes has done to clarify his meanings.

Examples in Sentences as Literary Devices

Example #1: “A word in your shell-like ear would do nothing unless you are ready to hear it.” Here the phrase has been used as a metaphor for the whisper.

Example #2: “John has a word in your shell-like ear exactly like Jolly who whispers to you her poetry so that others should not hear.” In this sentence, the full phrase has been compared to the whisper of Jolly. Therefore, it has been used as a simile as the word “like” suggests.

Example #3: “Jessie speaks a word in your shell-like ear when you do not pay attention.” First, this phrase has been used as a metaphor of whisper, and second, the phrase itself is an example of comparison though it is a simile as the word “like” suggests. However, the comparison is also a separate rhetorical device used in this phrase.  

Example #4: “They have spoken many words in your shell-like ear, but you do not hear.” Here the speaker is using the phrase to accuse or rebuke the listener.

Example #5: “A word in your shell-like ear, you have to trust me,” whispered Noah, “Don’t send the report, you have to change the final quotes.” Here the phrase is used by the speaker to share private information and to stop him/her from sending reports.

 

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You may also like

  1. Word Play
  2. Hush Little Baby, Don’t Say a Word
  3. A Bad Penny Always Turns Up
  4. A Bun in The Oven
  5. A Change is as Good as A Rest
  6. A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step
  7. A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted
  8. A Penny for Your Thoughts
  9. A Load of Cobblers
  10. A Different Kettle of Fish
  11. Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here
  12. According to Hoyle
  13. After the Fact
  14. A Pig in a Poke
  15. Age Before Beauty
  16. Air Quotes
  17. Abracadabra
  18. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
  19. Accidentally on Purpose
  20. Ars Longa, Vita Brevis
  21. Any Port in a Storm
  22. Annus Horribilis
  23. Ankle Biter
  24. An Englishman’s Home Is His Castle
  25. An Offer He Can’t Refuse
  26. An Apple A Day
  27. A Pretty Penny
  28. As Daft As a Brush
  29. As Alike As Two Peas in a Pod
  30. As Dead As a Doornail
  31. As High As a Kite
  32. All Things Come to Those Who Wait
  33. As Happy As a Clam
  34. As Good Luck Would Have It
  35. All of a Sudden
  36. As Keen As Mustard
  37. As Pleased As Punch
  38. Baptism of Fire
  39. As Thick As Thieves
  40. At Loggerheads
  41. At/In One Fell Swoop
  42. Baker’s Dozen
  43. Bag and Baggage
  44. Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
  45. Be All and End All
  46. Beat Around the Bush
  47. Be Enthralled
  48. Bean Counter
  49. Beg The Question
  50. Big Fish in a Small Pond
  51. Bling Bling
  52. Below Par
  53. Bite the Bullet
  54. Birds of a Feather Flock Together
  55. Beware the Ides of March
  56. Blood Is Thicker Than Water
  57. Booby Prize
  58. Blue Plate Special
  59. Bog Standard
  60. Bone Dry
  61. Bottom Drawer
  62. Brand Spanking New
  63. Card Sharp
  64. Cannot Be Overestimated
  65. Caught Red Handed
  66. Chaise Lounge
  67. Cherchez La Femme
  68. Chip On Your Shoulder
  69. Apple of My Eye
  70. Club Sandwich
  71.  The Road Less Traveled
  72. The Birds and the Bees
  73. ‎Clutch At A Straw
  74. Think Outside The Box
  75. You Are What You Eat
  76. The Game is Afoot
  77. Cold Shoulder
  78. A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
  79. Tit for Tat
  80. Coin A Phrase
  81. A Vicious Circle
  82. The Ends of the Earth
  83. The Best Laid Schemes of Mice and Men
  84. Cool Britannia
  85. Cop An Attitude
  86. Crocodile Tears
  87. Crop Up
  88. Zig Zag
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  90. Darby And Joan
  91. Dark Horse
  92. Delusions Of Grandeur
  93. Derring-do
  94. The Great Unwashed
  95. The More the Merrier
  96. Strait and Narrow
  97. A Stone’s Throw
  98. The Devil’s Advocate
  99. Swan Song
  100. The Devil is in the Details

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