# hear things

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hear-things
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To imagine that one hears sounds that are not actually real; to have auditory hallucinations.

## Examples

- I think I am hearing things in the quiet house.
- The old floorboards creaked in the night, making me wonder if I was hearing things.
- Disturbed by the silence of the empty mansion, he questioned his own sanity and wondered if he was merely hearing things.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.