turn a deaf ear
Refuse to listen
To turn a deaf ear is to deliberately ignore or refuse to listen to something—a request, complaint, or piece of advice: She turned a deaf ear to their warnings.
The phrase implies willful disregard rather than inability to hear.
Someone who turns a deaf ear has chosen not to engage: Management turned a deaf ear to union concerns.
- stonewallRefuse to cooperate
- ignoreRefuse to notice
- pay no mindTo deliberately ignore
- dismissSend away or reject
- look the other wayWillfully ignore misconduct
neglect · overlook · close one's ears · cold shoulder · tune out · not listening · disregard · in one ear out the other · brush off · willful ignorance · indifferent · unresponsiveness · snub · slight · blank stare · unheedful · discount · spurn
turn a deaf earpay attention
Concentrate on something
lend an ear · be all ears · hear out · listen closely · hang on every word
turn a deaf earheed
Give careful attention
take to heart · act on · answer · address · acknowledge
turn a deaf earsympathize
Share another's feelings
empathize · open one's heart · take pity · feel for · have a heart
turn, turns, turned, turning, turner, turners, deaf, deafen, deafened