The Lion bowed down his head and whispered something to Puzzle [the donkey] at which his long ears went down; but then he said something else at which the ears perked up again.

His ears perked up when he heard there would be ice cream.

In hopes the coming Scenes your Mirth will raise
To you, the Iust pretenders to the Bays;
The Poet humbly thus a Reverence pays
And you, the Contraries, that hate the Pains
Of Labour’d Sense, or of Improving Brains:
That feel the Lashes in a well-writ Play,
He bids perk up and smile, the Satyr sleeps to Day.

In lifting her arms to perk up the bow at her throat, she knocked a hat off the bracket.

[…] ’tis better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk’d up in a glistering grief,
And wear a golden sorrow.

When this fair Traveller, with heat opprest,
And the days Toyls, here laid him down to rest
Where the soft Grass, and the thick Trees, displaid
A flowry Couch, and a cool Arbour made
About him round the grassy spires (in hope
To gain a kisse) their verdant heads perk’d up.]

I’ve been on the water wagon myself. But a drink might perk me up.

[…] they should not give heed to Women, that would be perking up in matters of Worshiping God.

[…] there is too frequently Combinations made amongst the rest, to cross and quash whatever they shall propose, be it never so just, and reasonable, and nothing alledged for it, but that they are mean, proud, busie people, and will perk up too much above their Betters, if they be not thus mortified, and kept under […]

Perk up

Meaning

Verb