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TomJ Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Q27: 'to make light of something' and 'to turn a deaf ear to something'
Hello,
When we say 'He made light of my warning', does it mean 'He didn't pay attention to it (my warning)'? What are the things that we could use this 'to make light of' with, please? For example, could I say 'He made light of my advice' as well?
I've also read somewhere 'to turn a deaf ear to something'; for example, 'he turned a deaf ear to my advice'. Could I use 'to make light of something' and 'to turn a deaf ear to something' interchangeably?
Thank you all.
When we say 'He made light of my warning', does it mean 'He didn't pay attention to it (my warning)'? What are the things that we could use this 'to make light of' with, please? For example, could I say 'He made light of my advice' as well?
I've also read somewhere 'to turn a deaf ear to something'; for example, 'he turned a deaf ear to my advice'. Could I use 'to make light of something' and 'to turn a deaf ear to something' interchangeably?
Thank you all.
Top answer
'turned a deaf ear' is the same as 'turn a blind eye" which both mean refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit. 'make light of' something means to treat something as if it were unimportant or humorous They do have different uses. You may be able to use one where the other is, but the meaning is a bit different.
- 'turned a deaf ear' is the same as 'turn a blind eye" which both mean refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.
- 'make light of' something means to treat something as if it were unimportant or humorous They do have different uses.
- You may be able to use one where the other is, but the meaning is a bit different.
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4 Answers
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'turned a deaf ear' is the same as 'turn a blind eye" which both mean refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.
'make light of' something means to treat something as if it were unimportant or humorous
They do have different uses. You may be able to use one where the other is, but the meaning is a bit different.
'make light of' something means to treat something as if it were unimportant or humorous
They do have different uses. You may be able to use one where the other is, but the meaning is a bit different.
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TomJWhen we say 'He made light of my warning', does it mean 'He didn't pay attention to it (my warning)'?No. It means something closer to 'He made fun of my warning'. That is, he treated it as ridiculous, something to be laughed at, something not to be taken seriously.
TomJto turn a deaf ear to somethingNot to listen to
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Thanks to both of you for your help!
Here's another expression: '(of something) to fall flat on somebody'. For example, 'all my advice fell flat on him'. Would it mean 'my advice didn't affect him'? Or 'there was no effect on him of my advice'?
With 'advice', I've often heard 'to act upon' or 'to follow'. I'd like to ask you if these
Here's another expression: '(of something) to fall flat on somebody'. For example, 'all my advice fell flat on him'. Would it mean 'my advice didn't affect him'? Or 'there was no effect on him of my advice'?
With 'advice', I've often heard 'to act upon' or 'to follow'. I'd like to ask you if these
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TomJto fall flat on somebodynot to impress somebody very much; not to have the positive desired effect on somebody
A joke can fall flat if it is not told properly. If it falls flat, nobody will think it's funny, and nobody will laugh.
TomJ'to act uponTheanadvice' and 'to followanadvice'
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