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3. in one ear and out the other

in one ear and out the other

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in (at) one ear and out (of) the other

Prov. heard but not remembered. (Used to describe something that someone does not listen to.) Ellen: Did you tell Junior to be careful with the car when he drives it? Fred: Yes, but I think it went in one ear and out the other. The teacher felt that everything she told her students was in one ear and out the other.

See also: and, ear, one, other, out

in one ear and out the other

heard but not remembered I'd remind him about something and he'd let it go in one ear and out the other.

See also: and, ear, one, other, out

in one ear and out the other

Quickly forgotten, as in Their advice to her just went in one ear and out the other. This expression, a proverb in John Heywood's 1546 collection, conjures up a graphic image of sound traveling through one's head. [Late 1300s]

See also: and, ear, one, other, out

in one ear and out the other

Without any influence or effect; unheeded: His mind was made up, so my arguments went in one ear and out the other.

See also: and, ear, one, other, out