proverbs - Are there English figurative expressions equivalent to Japanese idiom 馬耳東風 meaning a person who doesn’t listen to other’s advice?


North wind tells the arrival of spring season in Japan. And incidentally, we have an idiom, “馬耳東風,” of which literal translation is ‘the east wind to the ears of horse,’ meaning a person who doesn’t listen to, or respect other’s opinion, advice, and suggestion like a horse is insensitive to the meaning and tastefulness of east wind. For example, we say “His boss’s admonition was just an east wind to Taro. And he was fired.”


I don’t know why it should be east wind, not west, south or north wind, but Chines have the same saying, “东风吹马耳.”


The structure of “East wind to a horse” resembles “Pearls to a swine,” but is pretty different in meaning.


Are there similar figurative expressions to describe a person who has deaf ears to others' advice and opinion, like an obstinate or insensitive horse?



Answer



We do have an expression, "in one ear and out the other"



His boss's admonition went in one ear and out the other and he was fired.



One could also say, "His boss's admonition fell on deaf ears.


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