Sound arriving, and an ear leaning in

Where the picture shows up in hear/listen

1. 1

   sound not arriving

   I can't hear you — the line is bad.

   aɪ kɑːnt hɪə juː — ðə laɪn ɪz bæd

   I can't hear you — the line is bad.

   The receiver pressed hard against your ear while the voice keeps breaking up before it gets there

   Whether something is audible or not is always hear.

2. 2

   the ear leans in

   Listen carefully, I'll say the code once.

   ˈlɪsn ˈkeəfəli, aɪl seɪ ðə kəʊd wʌns

   Listen carefully, I'll say the code once.

   Head tilted slightly, a hand cupped behind the ear, determined not to miss a syllable

   Listen often comes as a command — it is a request to gather your ears.

3. 3

   news drifting in

   Did you hear about the new manager?

   dɪd juː hɪər əˈbaʊt ðə njuː ˈmænɪdʒə

   Did you hear about the new manager?

   A remark dropped in the break room drifting straight into the ear of the person standing nearby

   For news and rumour: hear about, or hear that.

4. 4

   an ear kept on a source

   She listens to the radio while she works.

   ʃiː ˈlɪsnz tə ðə ˈreɪdiəʊ waɪl ʃiː wɜːks

   She listens to the radio while she works.

   One ear turned toward the radio on the bench while both hands keep working

   Listen takes to, which points at what the ear is turned toward.

5. 5

   leaned in, but nothing arrived

   I was listening but I didn't hear the last part.

   aɪ wəz ˈlɪsnɪŋ bət aɪ ˈdɪdnt hɪə ðə lɑːst pɑːt

   I was listening but I didn't hear the last part.

   Leaning forward in a meeting with your ear gathered, and only the final words fading out before they reach it

   listening is the effort of leaning; hear is the result of arriving.