IdiomBody & Senses
Dutch
Dutchvoor dovemansoren
Meaning: Said or done in vain; unheeded by those it is meant for.
Literally: For deaf men's ears
Example: “Al mijn waarschuwingen over het ijs waren aan dovemansoren gericht.” — All my warnings about the ice fell on deaf ears.
English equivalent: To fall on deaf ears
Equivalents in other languages
German: in den Wind sprechen Literally: To speak into the wind
Portuguese: falar com as paredes Literally: To speak with the walls- Portuguese: cair em saco roto Literally: To fall into a torn sack
English: fall on deaf ears
Origin: From the old picture of knocking at a deaf man's door, as Stoett explains: Middle Dutch said voor eens doven duer cloppen of a request that gets no hearing, and a 16th-century collection notes that beggars cry and knock at such doors in vain. Latin had surdis auribus canere, to sing to deaf ears. The modern phrase is voor dovemansoren spreken or aan dovemansoren gericht zijn.
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