What Does "Preach to Deaf Ears" Mean?
"Preach to deaf ears" is an English idiom. It means "to speak passionately or earnestly about something to people who are not receptive or unwilling to listen."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "preach to deaf ears" used in a sentence:- No matter how hard she tried, her efforts to raise awareness about climate change often felt like preaching to deaf ears.
- He felt frustrated because he was preaching to deaf ears when he spoke about the importance of financial responsibility to his spendthrift siblings.
- Preaching to deaf ears can be discouraging, but sometimes persistence can make a difference.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Preach to Deaf Ears" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "preach to deaf ears" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold

Silver

Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?