Hello everyone!
Welcome to Idiom 100, where we learn 100 commonly used idioms by native English speakers.
All of the explanations are in English, so it might be challenging for you,
but just try to imagine the meanings in your head and study hard and soon you'll be able to use these idioms in your conversations.
Is everyone ready? Let's begin.
Hello everyone!
Today's idiom is: falling on deaf ears.
Falling on deaf ears.
Alright, can you imagine what this idiom might mean?
Do you know the word 'deaf'?
'Deaf' means you can't hear. You can't hear, alright?
So, a deaf ear is an ear that can't hear anything.
Alright, so let's imagine you're speaking and you have a deaf ear down here and it can't hear anything.
So, you're speaking and your words are falling on deaf ears.
So, the ear is not listening. It can't hear your words, falling on deaf ears.
Alright, so let's think of this picture as we listen to the examples.
Are you listening to what I'm saying or is it falling on deaf ears?
Oh I'm sorry, my mind is wandering off. Can you tell me again?
Alright, so he wondered if she was listening or not, yeah,
'Are you listening to what I'm saying or is it falling on deaf ears? Are you not listening?'
Okay, then, next one:
Do you think if I apologize to Susan for breaking her iPod, she will forgive me?
It will probably fall on deaf ears considering it's the third iPod that you broke of hers!
Okay, so he wants to apologize, but it's the third time he broke her iPod.
So, maybe his apology is going to fall on deaf ears. She won't care. It means nothing. She won't listen, okay?
So, 'falling on deaf ears' means that the person is not listening to you.
Maybe they don't care what you're saying and usually it's for a negative reason.
Maybe you're saying something, you said it many times and the meaning gets smaller and smaller and eventually meaningless.
So, your words are falling on deaf ears or maybe they don't want to hear you.
For example, your children have a messy room and you tell them every day, 'Clean up your room,' but it's falling on deaf ears.
They're not listening to you, okay?
So, I hope that you don't have this situation, but maybe you have another situation you can use this idiom on.
Let's use 'falling on deaf ears' and I'll see you next time.