stand you on your ear?
I think I heard this in context where it's something that really scares you .
Me espanto? That stood me on my ear.
3 Answers
To stand something on its ear is to turn it completely upside down, to change everything about it, to get rid of old ways and introduce new ways ...
Hi Tuscantory,
In all cases, the expression is a clear example of hyperbole, that is, an obvious an exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally.
Often it is used to suggest a rather shocking experience; however, depending on the context—especially in terms of what causes the shock—the resulting expression can entail anything from a pleasure to bewilderment, terror or pain. Below, I have commented on a few examples from the Internet:
Examples:
I know that Josh Rickards is the type of player that can stand you on your ear.
Meaning:
Here, the expression is used to imply that the quality of Rickard's playing is so impressive that it has the capacity to completely amaze or astonish the listener by its quality. In essence, the playing is viewed as an extremely pleasant surprise.
The food has just the right seasoning and can stand you on your ear if you don't ask, "Is the green chili hot this season?"
Meaning:
In this case, the meaning is slightly different from that given above in that the experience does not necessarily represent a pleasant one (in contrast to the previous example), but merely comments on the shock value that comes along with consuming extremely hot chili peppers.
Synonyms:
Amaze you, astonish you, really surprise you, knock your socks off, knock you off your feet, leave you dumbfounded, leave you speechless, leave you breathless, throw you for a loop, bowl you over, blow your mind, blow you away, blow you right off your feet, be overpowering, exceed all expectations, knock you on your rear, make you take a step back.
Spanish:
Asombrarte, soprenderte, impresionarte, dejarte asombrado, dejarte pasmado, dejarte atónito, superar todos las expectativas, llenarte de extrañeza.
It's kind of mystifying how life can stand you on your ear in a split second, isn't it?
Meaning: Aside from the idea of shock, the expression "stand you on your ear" can also be used to express a complete reversal of fortune. Here, the author describes an experience that is more bewildering and humbling than anything else. In this case, the expression "stand you on your ear" entails a complete change in regards to the person's station in life.
Synonyms:
Do the unexpected on you, turn the tables on you, completely change for you, turn your wold upside down, do a 180 on you, flip the script on you, pull the rug out from under you, knock you on your rear/keister/etc.
Spanish:
Cambiar tu vida por completo, cambiarte la vida de la noche a la mañana, producir cambios profundos e inesperados en la vida.
I've heard 'to stand something on its head', meaning to change it completely, but I have never heard ear used in that context.
