fall on deaf ears

Idioms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 2023, at age 86, Holtz questioned the toughness of coach Ryan Day’s Ohio State football team—a statement that didn’t fall on deaf ears.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Protestations that big spending is justified by Amazon’s fastest growth rate in its cloud-computing unit for the past 13 quarters looked set to fall on deaf ears judging by the initial stock market reaction.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

You have already made up your mind, so this response may fall on deaf ears.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 10, 2025

He's right about this, but his words will fall on deaf ears.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2024

The summons did not fall on deaf ears.

From History of The Reign of Philip The Second King of Spain Volume The Third and Biographical & Critical Miscellanies by Prescott, William Hickling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023