perfectly listening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perfectly listening" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to emphasize that someone is listening with complete attention or understanding, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "During the meeting, she was perfectly listening to every detail of the presentation."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When I was in kindergarten my mom told me she walked past my classroom, expecting me to be sitting silently and perfectly, listening to the teacher, and on the contrary she witnessed her little daughter moving around anxiously, not able to sit still for one second.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

From the results, we conclude that understanding test questions perfectly by listening to the questions twice is not very likely to boost students' test performance.

Language Testing in Asia

A casual listener would be perfectly capable of listening to this song and thinking: 'Oh those bloody lazy retail workers, why don't I get any perks?' and then take to their phone to rattle off a few tweets of nonsense about how it's wrong to go on strike, and anyway, thanks to the last Labour government white people are no longer allowed to.

Vice

"Does Westchester have pterodactyls now?" Robert closed the door and took a defensive position, remaining perfectly still and listening for signs of approach.

The New Yorker

The smaller files are handy for speedy downloads, space-saving for storage and perfectly serviceable for listening through ear buds when riding on the subway.

The New York Times

My ears are fairly normal and don't stick out too far, testing by others in the office showed similar pinching results, but your milage may vary – they were perfectly fine for listening in short bursts.

The Guardian - Tech

While perfectly useful for listening to vinyl at your house, belt-driven turntables feature a separate motor that drives a rubber belt, which is used to spin the plate and the record.

WikiHow

They're perfectly willing to listen and learn from the outside.

The Guardian

To say that students who are perfectly competent to listen to college solicitations are not competent enough to listen to military recruiters makes no sense.

The New York Times

We have a lot of potential captains coming along, but you could have a captain who fits the bill perfectly and we listen to our players.

The Guardian - Sport

This is one reason that it is perfectly possible to listen to great chunks of the five hours of music on "El Cancionero" without getting sick to death of it — you're getting two bands for the price of one.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using more common alternatives like "listening intently" or "listening carefully" for better clarity and naturalness.

Common error

Avoid using "perfectly listening" in formal writing. Opt for stronger, more established phrases that convey attentiveness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perfectly listening" functions as an adverb-verb combination, where "perfectly" modifies the action of "listening". The Ludwig AI reports that the expression is uncommon and may sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

27%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "perfectly listening" is grammatically sound, but Ludwig AI data reveals it is an uncommon expression. While it aims to emphasize attentiveness, it might sound awkward or unnatural to native English speakers. Therefore, it's generally advisable to opt for more standard alternatives like "listening carefully", ""listening intently"", or "paying close attention" to ensure clarity and naturalness in your writing or speech. The primary context where this expression occurs is News & Media and Science. Consider the context and audience when deciding whether to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

listening intently

Emphasizes the focus and concentration of the listener.

listening carefully

Highlights the precision and attention to detail in the act of listening.

listening attentively

Stresses the engagement and responsiveness of the listener.

completely focused on listening

Highlights undivided attention being given to the act of listening.

absolutely still and listening

Indicates a combination of physical stillness and auditory attention.

totally engrossed in listening

Emphasizes the immersive nature of the listening experience.

paying close attention

Shifts the focus from the act of listening to the act of paying attention.

hanging on every word

Uses a figurative expression to convey intense interest and attentiveness.

all ears

Informal expression indicating eagerness to listen.

giving their undivided attention

Focuses on the act of providing attention during the listening act.

FAQs

How can I use "perfectly listening" in a sentence?

While grammatically valid, "perfectly listening" is not a common phrase. A better alternative could be "She was "listening intently" to the instructions".

What are some alternatives to "perfectly listening"?

You can use alternatives such as "listening carefully", "listening attentively", or "paying close attention" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "perfectly listening"?

The phrase "perfectly listening" is grammatically acceptable, but it's not commonly used. It might sound more natural to say someone is "listening carefully" or ""listening intently"".

What's the difference between "perfectly listening" and "listening carefully"?

"Perfectly listening" implies an ideal state of listening, which isn't a common expression. "Listening carefully" is a more standard and widely understood way to describe attentive listening.