put a bug in one's ear

/pˌʊt ɐ bˈʌɡ ɪn wˈɒnz ˈiə/

/pˌʊt ɐ bˈʌɡ ɪn wˈʌnz ˈɪɹ/

[phrase]

to put a bug in one's ear

[PHRASE]

to provide someone with a hint or suggestion

Examples

1. I put a bug in his ear about giving Helen a call.

2. I've been putting a bug in his ear for months about what I wanted for my birthday, but he was totally clueless when the day came.

3. If you're not immune to learning more, check out this video where we talk to an Infection Control Professional in Alberta who put a bug in our ear about this emerging occupation.

4. When I started working on a big feature project about the Florida Panther, Carlton started putting a bug in my ear about this moth project that he wanted to spend an entire summer.