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стригущий ушами

English translation: 'Twitching' or 'Pricked up' or 'Pinned back' ears

09:04 Sep 6, 2022
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Russian term or phrase: стригущий ушами
Сын подал голос вслед отцу, едущему ровной, мелкой рысью на стригущем ушами кауром скакуне.

AND

Он чуть натянул поводья стригущего под ним ушами карего скакуна...
Simon Hollingsworth
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:53
English translation:'Twitching' or 'Pricked up' or 'Pinned back' ears
Explanation:
Mix and match according to context. The phrase essentially describes a horse's ears reactions when it has spotted or is disquieted by something.

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Note added at 1 hr (2022-09-06 10:56:41 GMT)
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*https/www.olya.com


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Note added at 2 hrs (2022-09-06 11:10:58 GMT)
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You could also have 'Cocked'. He (I'm assuming it's a stallion) 'cocked his ears'...

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Note added at 4 hrs (2022-09-06 13:23:47 GMT)
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Hi Mikhail. I didn't have sufficient room to answer your query properly. So, I do so here.
I would say 'pricked up' usually (but not always) suggests that the horse is alert to something. 'Pinned back' when it is 'listening out intently' to something. 'Twitching' is much more versatile and could be used in a number of situations. I would personally favour 'twitching' over 'flickering'. For example, a horse's ears can 'twitch' back and forth (or just forward or back).
The problem with 'flickering' is that it usually refers to 'light' and 'images' and is not usually used in the active voice. As far as I am aware, you cannot 'flicker' something. The author of the sources that you have found, which use 'flicker' in the active may have actually meant 'flicked' - His ears 'flicked' back and forth. However, 'flicked' is usually (to my mind) used with regards a horse's tail - 'the horse flicked its tail'.
If I was editing the source you quoted above - I would be tempted to replace 'flicker' with 'twitch' or perhaps 'flick'. The former suggests a slightly heightened sense of anxiety in the horse.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2022-09-06 13:27:50 GMT)
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As ever, the ultimate choice will depend on the wider context of the sentences that Simon quotes above.
Selected response from:

Simon Geoghegan
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:53
Grading comment
Having sought further clarification from the client (alas, the author is no longer with us), this is the best answer for the context (twitching). However, many thanks for all your suggestions and discussions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2flickering its ears
Denis Fesik
3 +1horse’s ears flickering
Elena Doroshenko
4'Twitching' or 'Pricked up' or 'Pinned back' ears
Simon Geoghegan
3 +1moving its ears
Michael Sarni
Summary of reference entries provided
Horse's ear positions/movements
Dylan Edwards

Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
horse’s ears flickering


Explanation:
or twitching

https://horseracingsense.com/what-does-horses-ears-tell-you-...

Elena Doroshenko
Russian Federation
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DTSM
28 mins
  -> Thank you!
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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
flickering its ears


Explanation:
another version is "flicking", I guess it's a common term

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Note added at 19 mins (2022-09-06 09:23:58 GMT)
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just in case: my flickering came up independently of the flickering in the discussion

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Note added at 33 mins (2022-09-06 09:38:12 GMT)
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btw, it could be more appropriate to write "flickering his ears" in this case

Denis Fesik
Local time: 20:53
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Elena Doroshenko
4 mins
  -> Thank you, Elena!
agree  DTSM
33 mins
  -> Thank you!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
'Twitching' or 'Pricked up' or 'Pinned back' ears


Explanation:
Mix and match according to context. The phrase essentially describes a horse's ears reactions when it has spotted or is disquieted by something.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2022-09-06 10:56:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

*https/www.olya.com


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2022-09-06 11:10:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You could also have 'Cocked'. He (I'm assuming it's a stallion) 'cocked his ears'...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2022-09-06 13:23:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hi Mikhail. I didn't have sufficient room to answer your query properly. So, I do so here.
I would say 'pricked up' usually (but not always) suggests that the horse is alert to something. 'Pinned back' when it is 'listening out intently' to something. 'Twitching' is much more versatile and could be used in a number of situations. I would personally favour 'twitching' over 'flickering'. For example, a horse's ears can 'twitch' back and forth (or just forward or back).
The problem with 'flickering' is that it usually refers to 'light' and 'images' and is not usually used in the active voice. As far as I am aware, you cannot 'flicker' something. The author of the sources that you have found, which use 'flicker' in the active may have actually meant 'flicked' - His ears 'flicked' back and forth. However, 'flicked' is usually (to my mind) used with regards a horse's tail - 'the horse flicked its tail'.
If I was editing the source you quoted above - I would be tempted to replace 'flicker' with 'twitch' or perhaps 'flick'. The former suggests a slightly heightened sense of anxiety in the horse.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2022-09-06 13:27:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

As ever, the ultimate choice will depend on the wider context of the sentences that Simon quotes above.


    Olya
Simon Geoghegan
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:53
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Having sought further clarification from the client (alas, the author is no longer with us), this is the best answer for the context (twitching). However, many thanks for all your suggestions and discussions.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Mikhail Kropotov: The three English options you've offered describe three different gestures, whereas the Russian phrase refers to one specific gesture. UPD. Thank you for your added comment, Simon! I have noted the difference between flick and flicker.
1 hr
  -> I would say 'pricked up' usually (but not always) suggests that the horse is alert to something. 'Pinned back' when it is 'listening out intently' to something. 'Twitching' is much more versatile and could be used in a number of situations. I
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
moving its ears


Explanation:
Same as прядущий ушами. Стричь also move in a scissor-like fashion. Horses can move each ear independently.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2022-09-06 13:45:52 GMT)
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Alternative: flicking back and forth (not flickering):

“What His Ears Say
…
- Rapidly swiveling. Ears that are flicking back and forth are a sign that the horse is in a heightened state of anxiety or alertness. He may be trying to locate the source of a frightening sound or smell, or he may be overwhelmed by too many stimuli.”
https://equusmagazine.com/behavior/horse-body-language/#:~:t...

Michael Sarni
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:53
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DTSM
32 mins
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Reference comments


23 hrs
Reference: Horse's ear positions/movements

Reference information:
Some interesting info here:

https://horseracingsense.com/what-does-horses-ears-tell-you-...

I note the use of "pricked" rather than "pricked up". That sounds like the lingo they use (in horseriding/horseracing circles).

Dylan Edwards
United Kingdom
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 68

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
neutral  Mikhail Kropotov: Again, стричь ушами means moving them backward and forward repeatedly. "Pricking" seems to describe a specific position of the ears, not continuous movement.
18 hrs
  -> Thank you for the clarification. For this kind of movement, "flicking" (as used in one of your links) seems more appropriate. I wouldn't rule out "flickering" (as used in another one of your links).
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