Fall on deaf ears
2019.06.05
Meaning:
‘Deaf’ means ‘cannot hear’. So the expression ‘to fall on deaf ears’ means ‘to say something to a person who doesn’t listen’. If I suggested something to you, and you didn’t follow my suggestion, I could say ‘My suggestion fell on deaf ears’. For example, I often tell my wife she should get a short hair-cut, but she never does. My suggestion (to get a hair-cut) falls on deaf ears.
Example:
A: Every time I make a suggestion to my boss it falls on deaf ears.
B: What happened this time?
A: Last week I told him that we should contact our client to let them know that a delivery might be late. He just told me not to worry.
B: And… was the delivery late?
A: Yes it was! I hope he’ll listen next time.
Talking Point(s):
Do you ever make suggestions that fall on deaf ears?
大人からの英会話getgo 西船橋・荻窪・津田沼・本八幡