I tried to fix the sink but made a pig's ear of it.
make a pig's ear of
idiomTo do badly; to make a mess of.
The new employee made a pig's ear of the report, so we had to rewrite the entire document.
Despite his extensive preparation, he made a pig's ear of the presentation, leaving the board members confused and disappointed.
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absence makes the heart grow fonder
One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.
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all ears
Listening intently; fully focused.
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all eyes and ears
Very attentive.
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are your ears burning
Asked of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
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beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
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believe one's ears
To believe that something which one hears is truly the case.
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bend someone's ear
To bore; to talk too long, especially to one particular person.
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box someone's ears
To slap someone on the side of the head, usually as an informal punishment.
Last updated July 12, 2026