Meaning: This means that all the students in the class were paying close attention to what the teacher was saying.
Choice of Words: Class is a group of students who are taught together. Attentive means paying close attention to something.
Alternative Expressions
The students were all ears.
Meaning: This means that the students in the class were paying close attention and listening carefully to what was being said or taught.
Choice of Words: Students are the people in the class. Ears are the body parts we use to hear. The phrase "all ears" means that someone is paying close attention and listening carefully.
The class was hanging on every word.
Meaning: This means that the students in the class were paying close attention and listening carefully to what was being said or taught.
Choice of Words: Hanging means to hold onto something. Every word means each and every single word that was being said or taught. This phrase means that the students were paying close attention and listening carefully to what was being said or taught.