set smb. by the ears

   1) пoccopить кoгo-л.

    As a matter of fact, Ridding, it's quite another sort of lady who has set us by the ears (H. G. Wells)

   2) взбудopaжить кoгo-л.

    She lay awake, thinking. Even without announcement the return of presents would set London by the ears and bring on her again an avalanche of bills (J. Galsworthy). The scientist set the whole world by the ears with his discovery