Flea in the ear

Posted by R. Berg on July 21, 2009 at 15:53

In Reply to: Flea in the ear posted by Smokey Stover on July 20, 2009 at 14:51:

: : Where does the phrase 'send them away with a flea in their ear' come from?

:
: The Oxford English Dictionary has a good answer for your question.

: " 4. a. phr. a flea in one's ear: said of a stinging or mortifying reproof, rebuff, or repulse, which sends one away discomfited: chiefly in phr. to go (send, etc.) away with a flea in one's ear. †b. Formerly also = anything that surprises or alarms, matter for disquietude or agitation of spirit: after F. (avoir or mettre) la puce à l'oreille."

: A list of examples follows, the first of which dates from ca. 1430.

: [Examples]. "c1430 Pilgr. Lyf. Manhode II. xix. 91 And manye oothere grete wundres [ye haue seyd] whiche ben fleen in myne eres [F. puces es oreilles]. . . 1887 RIDER HAGGARD Jess xiii, I sent him off with a flea in his ear, I can tell you."

: I have omitted the considerable number of examples which come between these two in date. They are very consistent with the two examples copied here. I assume you know that fleas have always been biting insects of which the bite is painful and causes itching. It might be difficult getting one out of your ear; you can't just slap it.
: SS

Perhaps too obvious to mention: this metaphor gets some of its effectiveness from the ears as speech receptors, so that speaking to someone is like putting something in his or her ear. ~rb