- Home
- Idioms
- deaf
deaf
are you deaf?
Asked rhetorically and sarcastically to someone who appears not to be listening or who is not following instructions. Due to its negative connotation, the phrase is considered offensive to those who are actually hearing-impaired. Hello? Are you deaf? I asked you when you would have this report finished. I've told you how to do this five times now. Are you deaf?
preach to deaf ears
To present arguments to or attempt to persuade or advise those who have no inclination to change their opinion or belief. You're preaching to deaf ears if you think you can convince these kids to stay away from alcohol before they turn 21. Even though they know they're preaching to deaf ears, the hate group makes a point of holding protests outside churches and the funerals of slain soldiers.
deaf as an adder
Unable to hear anything. The deafness of an adder is referred to in the Bible. A: "I'm shouting, and he's ignoring me!" B: "Oh, he's deaf as an adder! Write down whatever you're trying to communicate to him." What are you, deaf as an adder? You hear me calling you for dinner, so get in here!
there's none so deaf as those that will not hear
People who choose not to listen will never hear what is being said. You can try to reason with him all you want, but his mind is made up. There's none so deaf as those that will not hear.
be as deaf as a post
To be unable to hear well or at all. I hope grandpa wears his hearing aid to dinner tonight because he's as deaf as a post without it. After years of listening to loud rock music, I'm deaf as a post.
deaf and dumb
unable to hear or speak. (Used without any intended malice, but no longer considered polite. Sometimes euphemized as "hearing and speech impaired.") Fred objected to being called deaf and dumb. Aunt Clara—she was deaf and dumb, you know—lived to be over 100.
*deaf as a post
deaf. (*Also:as ~.) When my cousin was a teenager, she played her drum set without ear protection, and she was as deaf as a post by the age of twenty-five. Mark can't hear you even if you shout; he's deaf as a post.
fall on deaf ears
Fig. [for talk or ideas] to be ignored by the persons they were intended for. Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears; the judge gave her the maximum sentence. All of Sally's good advice fell on deaf ears. Walter had made up his own mind.
There's none so deaf as those who will not hear.
Prov. If you tell someone something that he or she does not want to know, he or she will not pay attention to you. I tried repeatedly to tell my supervisor about the low morale in our department, but there's none so deaf as those who will not hear.
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 something
to ignore what someone is saying The Supreme Court said there was a need for action, but Congress has turned a deaf ear to the Court. Mei-ling's father turned a deaf ear to any criticism of how he had taught his daughter.
something falls on deaf ears
a statement, opinion, or suggestion is ignored Jennifer suggested that Harold should get a job, but of course her advice fell on deaf ears.
be as deaf as a post
(British, American & Australian informal) also be as deaf as a doorknob/doornail (Australian) to be completely deaf She's 89 and as deaf as a post.
See fall on deaf ears, turn a deaf earfall on deaf ears
if a request or advice falls on deaf ears, people ignore it Appeals to release the hostages fell on deaf ears. Warnings that sunbathing can lead to skin cancer have largely fallen on deaf ears in Britain.
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.
deaf as a post
Also, deaf as an adder. Unable to hear or to listen, as in Speak louder, Grandpa's deaf as a post. The first simile has its origin in John Palsgrave's Acolastus (1540): "How deaf an ear I intended to give him ... he were as good to tell his tale to a post." It has largely replaced deaf as an adder, alluding to an ancient belief that adders cannot hear; it is recorded in the Bible (Psalms 58:3-5).
fall on deaf ears
Be ignored or disregarded, as in
Any advice we give them about remodeling seems to fall on deaf ears. This expression transfers physical inability to hear to someone who does not want to listen. [1400s] Also see
turn a deaf ear.
stone deaf
Totally unable to hear, as in Poor Grandpa, in the last year he's become stone deaf. [First half of 1800s]
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.
fall on deaf ears
To go unheeded; be ignored completely: "Moscow's own familiar charges ... will also fall on deaf ears" (Foreign Affairs).
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Orion | | o-RIE-ən (English) | Greek Mythology |
| Vijay | | - | Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi |
| Marwa | | - | Arabic |
| ŞEhrazat | | - | Turkish |
| Anneka | | - | English (Rare) |
| Archibald | | AHR-chə-bawld | Scottish, English |