I cannot sing because I have Van Gogh's ear for music.
have Van Gogh's ear for music
idiomTo be tone-deaf.
Origin
disputed originSince Van Gogh (a painter, not a musician) is famed for cutting off his own ear. The phrase is attributed to Billy Wilder.
Do not ask him to join the choir, as he truly has Van Gogh's ear for music.
Despite his deep appreciation for the arts, he unfortunately has Van Gogh's ear for music and cannot carry a simple tune.
- 01
bend someone's ear
To bore; to talk too long, especially to one particular person.
- 02
ear to the ground
The practice or characteristic of carefully gathering information; a state or mindset of attentiveness.
- 03
ear tunnel
A round piece of jewelry with a hole in the middle, which fits into a stretched earlobe.
- 04
face the music
To accept or confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
- 05
flea in one's ear
A stinging rebuke or rebuff.
- 06
give ear
To listen: to devote one's attention to an auditory event.
- 07
go in one ear and out the other
To be heard but not attended to, when a person fails to pay attention.
- 08
have a word in someone's ear
To speak to someone in private.