preach to deaf ears

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

preach to deaf ears (third-person singular simple present preaches to deaf ears, present participle preaching to deaf ears, simple past and past participle preached to deaf ears)

1. (idiomatic) To attempt to persuade a party that does not wish to listen or cannot be altered in its conviction.

   Synonym: like talking to a wall

   • 2002, Edward M. Bennet, Separated by a Common Language: Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Anglo-American Relations, 1933-1939, Writers Club Press, →ISBN, page 126:

     Roosevelt was tired of preaching to deaf ears. He was ready to try something else.

Translations

Translations

Chinese: Mandarin: 對牛彈琴 / 对牛弹琴 (zh) (duìniútánqín) Finnish: puhua seinille French: parler à un mur (fr), parler à un sourd (fr) Japanese: 馬の耳に念仏 (ja) (uma no mimi ni nenbutsu) Norwegian: tale for døve ører Polish: rzucać grochem o ścianę impf, rzucić grochem o ścianę pf

See also

• fall on deaf ears
• turn a deaf ear
• preach in the desert