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Phrase(s): pay attention (to someone or something)
to give attention (to someone or something). • Please pay attention to the teacher. • Max always pays careful attention to what is being told to him.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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pay attention
to carefully listen to, look at, or think about something or someone:
• She told the class to stop talking and pay attention. • In any relationship, it helps to pay attention to each other’s needs.
concentrate
to think carefully about something that you are doing and not let other things disturb your thoughts:
• I tried to read a few pages, but I was too upset to concentrate. • Children need their own quiet space where they can concentrate on their homework.
keep your mind on something
to continue to pay attention to something, especially when you are very excited or worried about something else:
• On Friday, the day of the party, I had a dreadful time keeping my mind on my work. • Good football players keep their minds on the game at all times.
keep your eyes on something
to keep watching something carefully, so that you do not make any mistakes:
• The first rule of driving is to keep your eyes on the road. • Keep your eyes on the ball – now swing!
be engrossed in something
to be paying so much attention to a book, a conversation, some work etc, that you do not notice what is happening around you:
• Helen was sitting up in bed, engrossed in a novel. • He was so engrossed in what he was doing he didn’t even hear the doorbell ring.
be absorbed in something
to be giving all your attention to something, especially something you are reading, watching, or thinking about:
• The little boy sat at the edge of the pond, totally absorbed in watching the fish. • He was a quiet man who often seemed to be absorbed in his own thoughts. • Matilda was curled up in an armchair, absorbed in a book.
give something/somebody your undivided attention
to give all your attention to something or someone and not do anything else – used especially when this is something you want or need to do:
• Come round when the kids are in bed so I can give you my undivided attention. • Once I’ve finished my exams, I’ll be able to give my undivided attention to looking for a job.
Longman-Thesaurus
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Heed, be attentive to, as in Now pay attention to these instructions. [Second half of 1700s]
American Heritage Idioms