tin ear
Americannoun
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an insensitivity to melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic variety in music.
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an insensitivity to subtlety or appropriateness in verbal expression.
a tin ear for clear, precise prose.
Etymology
Origin of tin ear
First recorded in 1915–20
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.
“There are so many ways to ease the grief for the Jewish community in Bondi, without having a tin ear for the rest of multicultural Australia.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026
The former transport secretary warned Ms Truss not to have a "tin ear" to voters' concerns about rising living costs and to do a U-turn as soon as possible.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2022
“That shows a tin ear, at best, given the current climate,” he said.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 29, 2017
But if the council continues to display a tin ear, no one can blame Austin residents for opting for a referendum on CodeNext.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 24, 2017
Actually, as witness his unmusical opening—“Romans, countrymen and lovers”—it’s Brutus who has the tin ear.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
