jemandem ein Ohr abkauen

to talk someone's ear off; to pester someone with endless talking

Origin

The origin is not firmly documented; the phrase belongs to a family of colloquial images for excessive talking (cf. 'to talk a hole in someone's belly'). Early related forms appear around 1700; excessive talking is drastically pictured as 'chewing off' a body part.

Source

Building blocks

Words in this expression

Examples

  • Am kaut meine ein ab.

    On the phone my aunt always talks my ear off for hours.