# take the wax out of one's ears

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-the-wax-out-of-ones-ears
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To listen more carefully or pay closer attention.

## Examples

- You should take the wax out of your ears and listen to me.
- If you want to understand the instructions, you need to take the wax out of your ears and focus.
- 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.

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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.