C1idiomcommunicationIELTS-friendly
fall on deaf ears
USUK
(of advice or a request) to be ignored
The subject is the advice, warning or request, not the person.
In context
My advice to save money fell on deaf ears; he bought a new phone the next day.
Residents' complaints about the noise have fallen on deaf ears for years.
Common mistake
Incorrect: Our warnings fell on deaf ear.
Correct: Our warnings fell on deaf ears.
More idioms about communication
- a bone of contentiona subject that people keep arguing about
- a broken recordsomeone who keeps repeating the same thing in an annoying way
- a heart-to-heartan honest, private conversation about personal feelings
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- a red herringa fact or idea that takes attention away from the real issue