tin ear

noun

1. an insensitivity to melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic variety in music.
2. an insensitivity to subtlety or appropriateness in verbal expression:

   a tin ear for clear, precise prose.

3. cauliflower ear.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tin ear¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

For a man who was often lionized on the right, Sharon had a tin ear on economics.

From The Daily Beast

The uniform response to him is that he has a tin ear, that he is blind to ordinary people, that he is a fool, et cetera.

From The Daily Beast

Blair himself had a famously tin ear for the old-time grass roots faction.

From The Daily Beast

While McCain was at his most gracious, it was his audience who had the tin-ear.

From The Daily Beast

Now git out o' the way o' the dust, all of yez, or Ill put a tin ear on ye!'

From Project Gutenberg

He knew The Oskaloosa Kid well, and he knew him as an ex-pug with a pock marked face, a bullet head, and a tin ear.

From Project Gutenberg

Most all of them threatened him with a rectangular head, a tin ear, or a watch pocket under the eye He didn't seem to care much.

From Project Gutenberg

Again Bill pinched the sculptor, who inclined his tin ear for counsel.

From Project Gutenberg

Save for the twisted nose and the tin ear, he was an undeniably fine specimen.

From Project Gutenberg