# one could hear a pin drop

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/one-could-hear-a-pin-drop
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Extremely quiet, for example, as during a lull in a normally bustling place or scene, or at a sudden dramatic or tense moment.

## Examples

- The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
- When the teacher announced the surprise exam, the classroom became so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
- As the conductor raised his baton to begin the symphony, the auditorium fell into such a profound silence that one could hear a pin drop.

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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.