1. Home
2. Idioms
3. turn a deaf ear

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.

See also: deaf, ear, turn

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.

See also: deaf, ear, turn

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.

See also: deaf, ear, turn