fall on deaf ears

USAGE SUMMARY

'fall on deaf ears' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean that a person's plea or advice is being ignored. For example, "My words of caution seemed to fall on deaf ears when I warned him against taking such a risk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That may fall on deaf ears unfortunately.

Independent

It may well fall on deaf ears.

The Economist

His words fall on deaf ears.

The New York Times

Such warnings may fall on deaf ears, however.

The Economist

It is a plea that will fall on deaf ears.

Independent

But his warnings seemed to fall on deaf ears.

The New York Times - Magazine

The investigation's findings must not fall on deaf ears.

The New York Times

For the familial fundamentalists such arguments fall on deaf ears.

Independent

Protests against sound pollution fall on deaf ears.

The Guardian

Criticisms of these practices used to fall on deaf ears.

The Economist

Appeals to honor often fall on deaf ears.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fall on deaf ears" when you want to emphasize that advice, warnings, or pleas are being ignored, especially by someone who should be listening.

Common error

Avoid using "fall on deaf ears" when the lack of action is due to inability, rather than unwillingness to listen. The phrase implies a deliberate choice to ignore.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic phrase "fall on deaf ears" functions as a predicate in a sentence. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use to express that a warning, request, or piece of advice is being ignored.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fall on deaf ears" is a common idiom used to describe a situation where advice, pleas, or warnings are ignored. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure that the inaction is due to unwillingness rather than inability to act. Related phrases like "go unheeded" and "be ignored" offer alternative ways to express this concept. While "fall on deaf ears" is generally neutral, context matters; be mindful of the surrounding language to maintain the appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go unheeded

Focuses on the lack of attention received, instead of attributing the inaction to unwillingness or inability to act.

be ignored

A more straightforward and general way of saying something is not listened to.

meet with indifference

Highlights the apathetic reception rather than outright rejection.

be disregarded

Emphasizes the lack of consideration given to something.

be given no consideration

More verbose, stressing the absence of thoughtfulness or attention.

be paid no attention

Similar to "be ignored" but more emphatic about the lack of attention.

get nowhere

Implies a lack of progress or effect, rather than direct ignoring.

prove fruitless

Focuses on the lack of results or success, indicating the effort was wasted.

fail to resonate

Suggests a lack of connection or agreement, implying a failure to persuade.

evoke no response

Highlights the absence of reaction or acknowledgement.

FAQs

How can I use "fall on deaf ears" in a sentence?

Use "fall on deaf ears" to indicate that someone is ignoring advice or a request. For example, "His warnings about the market crash seemed to "go unheeded" and eventually "fell on deaf ears"".

What's a similar expression to "fall on deaf ears"?

Alternatives include "be ignored", "go unheeded", or "meet with indifference". They all convey the idea that a message isn't being acknowledged.

Is it correct to say "fell on deaf ears" or "fall on deaf ears"?

"Fell on deaf ears" is the past tense, while "fall on deaf ears" is the present tense. Choose the tense that matches the time frame of your sentence.

What is the difference between "fall on deaf ears" and "ignored"?

"Ignored" is a general term for not paying attention to something. "Fall on deaf ears" is an idiom that specifically implies that someone is choosing not to listen to advice or a request, despite it being important.