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Meaning of turn a deaf ear | Babel Free

Verb CEFR C2

Definitions

To refuse to listen to.

figuratively

Equivalents

Deutsch (gegenüber etwas) sich taub stellen Bohnen in den Ohren haben
Español hacer oídos sordos hacerse el sordo
Suomi kaikua kuuroille korville
Français faire la sourde oreille
Magyar a füle botját sem mozdítja
Íslenska daufheyrast við láta eins og vind um eyru þjóta láta sem vind um eyru þjóta skella skolleyrum við
Italiano fare orecchi da mercante
日本語 聞く耳を持たぬ
Latina obsurdesco
Polski oknąć
Português fazer ouvidos de mercador fazer ouvidos moucos
Русский пропуска́ть ми́мо уше́й
Svenska slå dövörat till
Tiếng Việt bỏ ngoài tai

Examples

“They turned a deaf ear to her entreaties.”
“This really confirms that Sacramentans turn⟳ a deaf ear to efforts to legislate bigotry and homophobia. Sacramento ought to take⟳ a lot of pride in looking at their community as one that tolerates diversity.”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
See all C2 English words →

See also

turn a hair turn a number of shades of red turn a phrase turn a profit turn a setback into a comeback turn a trick

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