listen to reason

Idioms

Pay heed to sensible advice or argument, as in We can't let him rush into that job—it's time he listened to reason. [Mid-1700s]

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.

But the role of family is not to be a caretaker to someone who has shown repeatedly that they are unwilling or unable to listen to reason, take advice and live a functioning life.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

Robert’s eventual willingness to listen to reason in “The Grand Finale” was important to Bonneville.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 5, 2025

"The legislators and a lot of the people wouldn't listen to reason," said Dr Stewart.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2023

By the time we get to last year’s “Don’t Look Up,” about an Earth-destroying comet, you can’t even get people to listen to reason.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2022

“If only the heart listen to reason, right?”

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

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