proverb · Words worth keeping
Tell that tale to a deaf man.
Tell that tale to a deaf man.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The expression dismisses a story as unlikely to persuade someone who examines it closely. Its hearing-related image is a harsh rhetorical device, not a reason to demean people with hearing differences.
Example
A listener asks how an unlikely sequence of events could have happened instead of accepting the story immediately.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Telling a tale to someone who cannot hear it is pictured as a way to avoid a questioning response. Applied to an implausible claim, the phrase tells the speaker that their account is not being accepted. It can therefore express skepticism, but it supplies no evidence about whether the story is true. A useful response to a doubtful account asks about the details and allows clarification rather than relying on ridicule. The comparison also treats a hearing difference as a convenient insult. A modern explanation can identify that device without adopting it as an appropriate way to address another person.
When to use it
Use it to examine an old expression of skepticism.
Keep in mind
The expression can be dismissive and insulting; request evidence respectfully.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English