rabbit ears
Americannoun
-
an indoor television antenna consisting of two telescoping, swivel-based aerials.
-
Sports Slang. acute sensitivity to gibes, insults, or sarcasm.
Players with rabbit ears are the favorite targets of bench jockeys.
Etymology
Origin of rabbit ears
First recorded in 1965–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Back then, TV “friction” meant tweaking the rabbit ears with tin foil or asking your uncle to hold the antenna until the fourth quarter was done.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
A keychain featuring a playful Choupette — designer Lagerfeld’s pet cat — with rabbit ears commemorates the Chinese New Year.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2023
Sometimes he would command me or my sister to adjust the rabbit ears to get better reception.
From Washington Post • Jun. 9, 2022
Sean: I guess I kinda like the rabbit ears.
From The Verge • Sep. 17, 2021
Gray lace curtains hung at the single window between them, and beside the window was a black table supporting an old- time TV set with rabbit ears.
From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
