fall on deaf ears

Meaning

This idiom is used to describe suggestions, advice, warnings, or requests that are completely ignored, dismissed, or disregarded by the listener. It implies that the person speaking was not listened to, as if the audience were physically deaf. It carries a tone of frustration, disappointment, or resignation.

Examples

• Our complaints about the noisy neighbors seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

  Our complaints about the noisy neighbors seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

• I warned him about the risks, but my advice fell on deaf ears.

  I warned him about the risks, but my advice fell on deaf ears.

• The manager's pleas for cooperation fell on deaf ears as the staff refused to work overtime.

  The manager's pleas for cooperation fell on deaf ears as the staff refused to work overtime.

• She felt like all her suggestions during the meeting fell on deaf ears.

  She felt like all her suggestions during the meeting fell on deaf ears.

• His calls for political reform unfortunately fell on deaf ears.

  His calls for political reform unfortunately fell on deaf ears.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ My warnings fell to deaf ears.

  ✓ My warnings fell on deaf ears.

  The correct preposition is 'on', not 'to'. The idiom mimics something dropping onto a surface.

• ✗ His advice fell on a deaf ear.

  ✓ His advice fell on deaf ears.

  The noun 'ears' must always be plural and does not take an article ('a') in this fixed idiomatic expression.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I tried to explain the rules, but my words ___.

  💡 The past tense of 'fall' is needed here.

  Show answer

  fell on deaf ears

• The union's demands for better pay seem to have ___.

  💡 The present perfect tense requires the past participle of 'fall'.

  Show answer

  fallen on deaf ears