bear to hear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'bear to hear' is not used in written English. It sounds awkward and is not a grammatically correct phrase. However, you could use the phrase 'bear to listen' which means to be willing to listen to or endure something. For example, "I was able to bear to listen to his long-winded rant for much longer than I expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I can't bear to hear him attacked.

The New Yorker

"I can't bear to hear his name," one said recently.

Independent

She could not bear to hear him wailing with hunger.

The New Yorker

"Which is?" "Can you bear to hear it?" "Yes".

The New York Times

He couldn't bear to hear of yet more wars.

The Guardian - Opinion

By then, this thoroughly Germanized Jew could not bear to hear the words "German culture".

The New Yorker

"People can't even bear to hear his name," said Yves Mougenot, a lorry driver.

The Guardian

"I can t bear to hear the telephone ringing while I'm painting, " he said.

The New Yorker

I couldn't bear to hear them going on about our prosperity".

The New York Times

Every five minutes, my grandmother complains that she cannot bear to hear the politicians talking.

The Guardian

I couldn't bear to hear even the opening chords of "Yesterday" or a cover of "Michelle".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Although the phrase "bear to hear" is frequently used, consider using "bear to listen" instead for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "hear" after "bear"; instead, use "listen" to ensure proper grammar. For example, prefer "I can't bear listening to that song" over "I can't "bear to hear" that song".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear to hear" functions as part of a verbal phrase expressing an individual's inability or unwillingness to tolerate listening to something. Although common, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "bear to hear" is commonly used, Ludwig AI suggests that it's grammatically incorrect. The accurate version is "bear to listen" or "bear listening to". The phrase is often used in News & Media to express an aversion to listening to something. If you want to improve your writing, consider using alternative expressions such as "can't stand to hear" or "unable to listen to". Despite its frequent appearance, remember to prioritize grammatical correctness in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can't bear listening to

Corrects the grammar by using the gerund form of listen, implying a continuous action.

can't stand to hear

Replaces "bear" with "stand", implying a stronger aversion.

find it unbearable to hear

Emphasizes the extreme discomfort of listening.

unable to listen to

More direct and literal, focusing on the inability to listen.

cannot tolerate hearing

Uses "tolerate" to emphasize a lack of acceptance.

hate to hear

Expresses strong dislike for listening to something.

cannot bring myself to listen to

Highlights personal reluctance and emotional difficulty.

loathe to hear

Stronger form of dislike, indicating intense aversion.

detest hearing

Expresses intense dislike or hatred of hearing something.

cannot stomach hearing

Idiomatic expression meaning to find something extremely unpleasant or unacceptable.

FAQs

Is "bear to hear" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "bear to hear" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "bear to listen" or "bear listening to".

What does it mean to "bear to listen" to something?

To "bear to listen" to something means to be able to tolerate or endure listening to it, even if it's unpleasant or difficult. See also "unable to listen to".

What are some alternatives to "I can't "bear to hear" that"?

You can use phrases like "I can't "stand to hear" that", "I can't "bear listening to" that", or "I "find it unbearable to hear" that".

How can I improve my sentence using "bear to hear"?

Replace "hear" with "listen" to improve grammatical correctness. For instance, change "I can't "bear to hear" the news" to "I can't "bear to listen to" the news".