listening ear
Someone who hears
A listening ear is someone willing to hear you out, especially when you need to talk through problems or emotions.
The phrase emphasizes receptive attention rather than advice-giving: Sometimes you just need a listening ear, not someone trying to fix things.
To lend a listening ear is to make yourself available for such support.
- attentivePaying close notice
- sympatheticFeeling others' emotions
- empathySharing another's emotions
- open heartEmotional receptiveness, unguarded
- comfortEase or soothing relief
confide · heart to heart · understanding · support · shoulder · shoulder to cry on · counselor · therapist · friend · lending an ear · patient · compassionate · hearing · silence · nod · presence · safe space · confidant
- supportsupport, emotional support, moral support, support group, stand by
- comfortcomfort, comforts, coziness, snugness, softness
listening eardeaf ear
Refusal to listen
cold shoulder · dismissiveness · indifference · stonewalling · tuning out
listening earunsolicited advice
Unrequested guidance from others
lecture · preaching · moralizing · judgment · criticism
listening eardistraction
Thing diverting one's attention
inattention · absent-mindedness · zoning out · glazed eyes · checked out
listening, listen, listens, listened, listener, listeners, earless