Definition of turn a deaf ear in US English:

phrase

• Refuse to listen or respond to a statement or request.

  Example sentences

  • ‘The Minister is turning a deaf ear to the pleas of the people on the ground who know first hand what the situation is.’
  • ‘You turned a deaf ear to the worldwide protests.’
  • ‘Unfortunately, despite the protests that women's organisations have made over the years, successive governments seem to have turned a deaf ear to their pleas.’
  • ‘On this occasion, the Coalition has turned a deaf ear to the advice of the Attorney General and an independent legal expert, both of whom believe it to be unconstitutional.’
  • ‘When the property management company turned a deaf ear to residents' advice, residents refused to pay the fees.’
  • ‘But the banking industry is apparently turning a deaf ear to the central bank's call as bank lending still stood high at around 17 percent to 18 percent.’
  • ‘The bishop has turned a deaf ear to their repeated pleas to him to reverse this decision.’
  • ‘But no matter how many warning signs have been flashed-up and alarm bells rung up the Government is hell bent on on closing its eyes and turning a deaf ear.’
  • ‘Not only was the boss unaware of the fact, but he turned a deaf ear to the numerous warnings of his editorial team and promoted the young journalist to the prestigious national reporting staff.’
  • ‘Ever get the feeling our Prime Minister just turns a deaf ear whenever he's given information that doesn't fit neatly with his politics?’
  • ‘The federation spokesman today said it had to go ahead with the agitation as the government has turned a deaf ear to the demands of the doctors, who have repeatedly drawn attention to these demands for the past three years.’
  • ‘She just accepted what the book said about how to feed our daughter, and turned a deaf ear to me, even if the hungry baby was crying for milk.’
  • ‘Like any parent whose pockets are empty, I turned a deaf ear.’
  • ‘In spite of this, I sometimes feel like turning a deaf ear to their words, because often mindless politicians are not prudent when they make speeches in public.’
  • ‘The fact of the matter is, this administration has turned a deaf ear to the industrial heartland.’
  • ‘Her efforts to find her son a permanent job even as a peon have been futile; the block development officer turns a deaf ear to her requests, she says.’
  • ‘In her complaint to the SSP, Ms Suman alleged that the despite repeated representations the local police turned a deaf ear to their grievances.’
  • ‘Unfortunately, these same people can turn a deaf ear when forced to listen to someone else's point of view.’
  • ‘When environmental concerns were initially raised, early on, Government turned a deaf ear.’
  • ‘While society turns a deaf ear to such helpless women, it gives full credence to unmarried females who are at liberty to decide the fates of innocent males.’

  Synonyms

  pay no attention, pay no attention to, ignore, disregard, pay no heed, pay no heed to, take no account, take no account of, turn a deaf ear, turn a deaf ear to, brush aside, shrug off, set aside, turn a blind eye, turn a blind eye to, shut one's eyes, shut one's eyes to, pass over, let pass, let go, overlook, look the other way, pretend not to notice

  View synonyms