Tin-eared

Tin-eared describes someone with a poor ability to distinguish musical notes or sounds, making it difficult for them to appreciate music or understand nuances in speech. It can also indicate a lack of sensitivity to criticism, social cues, or the subtleties of language and communication. This insensitivity stems from either a genuine inability to perceive finer auditory distinctions or a lack of attention and care when listening to others. The term often implies a lack of appreciation or understanding of art or refined expression.

Tin-eared meaning with examples

• The critic described the composer as 'tin-eared,' unable to hear the subtle shifts in harmony that elevated the other musicians work. His harsh compositions grated against the ears of the audience, lacking any of the finesse expected. Despite the feedback, the composer remained defiant, dismissing his critics as lacking understanding.
• When I played my new song to my brother, he just said it was 'okay' and didn't seem to understand. It hurt, because I tried so hard to do something different. I later realized that he is, sadly, a little tin-eared, and he just doesn't get the difference between what is good music and what is not.
• Her colleagues, frustrated with her tin-eared response to client concerns, considered her unsuited for the job. Her inability to empathize resulted in several customer complaints, resulting in low retention rates. Despite multiple trainings, she struggled to interpret the nonverbal clues and suggestions of the dissatisfied customers.
• The new play, despite the high praise it had received, failed miserably. The dialogue was clunky and the dialogue was tin-eared with many people complaining about this and ultimately walking out. The audience's boredom was further fueled by many scenes that dragged and were ultimately uninteresting for many attendees.
• After reviewing the design team's presentation, the CEO deemed their suggestions tin-eared, claiming that they missed many critical financial components of the project. The project was delayed for several weeks after the suggestion, leading to a decline in the team’s reputation. The CEO was frustrated with their misunderstanding of the company goals.