Meaning of Idiom ‘Go In One Ear and Out the Other’
When something goes in one ear and out the other, it is heard but then immediately forgotten or not heeded or taken seriously; referring to not paying attention to something said, often used in regards to advice or instructions.
A similar idiom is fall on deaf ears.
Examples Of Use
“My neighbor had a skin cancer scare and his doctor told him to avoid the sun but it just went in one ear and out the other.”
“I tell my son to turn off the lights when he leaves a room but it just goes in one ear and out the other.”
“He won’t listen to anyone. Anything you say goes in one ear and out the other.”
“She pretended to listen but nothing I said had any impact—it obviously went in one ear and out the other.”
Origin
This expression appears as a proverb in John Heywood’s collection from 1546, alluding to information failing to stay in the brain but simply passing through the head from one ear to the other.
