ENGLISH
REFERENCE

take the wax out of one's ears

idiom
Meaning

To listen more carefully or pay closer attention.


Examples
SIMPLE

You should take the wax out of your ears and listen to me.

CONTEXTUAL

If you want to understand the instructions, you need to take the wax out of your ears and focus.

COMPLEX

The professor paused mid-lecture, suggesting that if the students took the wax out of their ears, they might finally grasp the complexity of the subject.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 04

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  5. 05

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  6. 06

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  8. 08

    albatross around one's neck

    A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

© 2026 English Reference