Turn a deaf ear

Meaning

The idiom "turn a deaf ear" means to ignore or pay no attention to something. It implies that someone is deliberately choosing not to listen or acknowledge what is happening around them.

Usage

• "I turned a deaf ear when my coworker insulted me in front of the team." - This sentence suggests that the person chose not to hear or respond to their coworker's insult.
• "We turned a deaf ear to our customers' complaints and continued selling our product." - This sentence implies that the company ignored customer feedback and continued with their business practices without any regard for their customers' opinions.
• "He always turns a deaf ear to his wife's complaints about their marriage." - This sentence suggests that the man is not listening to his wife's concerns about their relationship and is instead dismissing them.
• "We turned a deaf ear to the warnings of the scientists about the potential dangers of the new technology." - This sentence implies that the people in charge ignored the warnings of experts and continued with the development of the technology without any regard for its potential risks.
• "The government turned a deaf ear to the protests of the citizens and passed the bill without their input." - This sentence suggests that the government chose not to listen to the opinions or concerns of the citizens and went ahead with their decision regardless of their feedback.

Roots and History

The idiom "turn a deaf ear" has been in use since at least the 17th century. The earliest known use of the phrase can be traced back to William Shakespeare's play, "Much Ado About Nothing," where the character Don John says, "I will turn a deaf ear unto their reproach." The idiom comes from the literal act of turning one's face away from something or someone, which effectively means ignoring them. Over time, the phrase has taken on a metaphorical meaning that implies deliberate disregard for what is happening around us.

Synonyms in English

• Ignore
• Dismiss
• Disregard
• Pay no attention to
• Shrug off

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "Ignorer" - This word means "to ignore" or "to pay no attention to."
• German: "Vergessen" - This word means "to forget" or "to dismiss."
• Spanish: "Ignorar" - This word means "to ignore" or "to pay no attention to."
• Italian: "Smentire" - This word means "to hear" or "to listen."
• Japanese: "無視" - This word means "to ignore" or "to disregard."

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