tin ear

American  

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.

3. cauliflower ear.

---

Etymology

Origin of tin ear

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tin ear

“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

Speaking to the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason, Mr Shapps 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

Listening to this album, you’d have to have a tin ear to not hear their abilities and a cold heart to not recognize their aspirations.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 5, 2018

While Mr. Ballmer was harshly criticized for his tin ear on technology, more than a dozen new products released under his watch exceeded $1 billion in annual revenue.

From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2015

Even his bicycle has been saved, and the tin ear trumpet, nearly two feet long, which poor deaf Konstantin used to hold up to his ear for his students to speak into.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins