tin ear

See synonyms for tin ear on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an insensitivity to melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic variety in music.

  2. an insensitivity to subtlety or appropriateness in verbal expression: a tin ear for clear, precise prose.

Origin of tin ear

1
First recorded in 1915–20

Words Nearby tin ear

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tin ear in a sentence

  • He knew The Oskaloosa Kid well, and he knew him as an ex-pug with a pock marked face, a bullet head, and a tin ear.

    The Oakdale Affair | Edgar Rice Burroughs
  • Most all of them threatened him with a rectangular head, a tin ear, or a watch pocket under the eye He didn't seem to care much.

    Remarks | Bill Nye
  • Again Bill pinched the sculptor, who inclined his tin ear for counsel.

    Good References | E. J. Rath
  • Save for the twisted nose and the tin ear, he was an undeniably fine specimen.

    Good References | E. J. Rath