earwig

Everyday

1. A small brown insect with a long body and a pair of pincers at its tail end. tree →
2. (UK, informal) To listen secretly to other people's conversations, as in «Stop earwigging!» tree →

In the lessons

In science and garden lessons earwigs are minibeasts found under stones, bark and flowerpots; they eat plants and small insects. Myth: they do not crawl into people's ears to lay eggs. In UK homes, a nosy child might be told off for «earwigging».

Examples

• We found earwigs under the flowerpot. tree →
• An earwig has pincers on its tail. tree →
• Earwigs come out at night to eat. tree →
• Earwigs do not really crawl into your ears. tree →
• Stop earwigging on our conversation! tree →
• Mum said I was earwigging when I listened at the door. tree →
• Effie's brother Harry fished something out of his tea, which he thought at first was an earwig. tree →

Note

Takes «an»: «an earwig». The verb sense is British and informal. The pincers are called «cerci»; they can give a pinch but are harmless.