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turn a deaf ear
turn a deaf ear (to someone or something)
to ignore what someone says; to ignore a cry for help. How can you just turn a deaf ear to their cries for food and shelter? Jack turned a deaf ear to our pleading.
turn a deaf ear
to ignore someone when they complain or ask for something (often + to ) In the past they've tended to turn a deaf ear to such requests.
turn a deaf ear
Refuse to listen, as in
You can plead all day but he's turning a deaf ear to everyone. This expression dates from the first half of the 1400s and was in most proverb collections from 1546 on. Also see
fall on deaf ears.