fall on deaf ears
idiomatic phrase
sometimes offensive
: to fail to be heard : to be ignored
Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.
see usage paragraph at deaf entry 1
Cite this Entry
“Fall on deaf ears.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fall%20on%20deaf%20ears. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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