What does turn a deaf ear mean?

"Turn a deaf ear" means to ignore someone or something completely. It implies that you are not willing to listen to what they have to say, or you are choosing to disregard their words or pleas.

Here are some examples:

* "The government turned a deaf ear to the protesters' demands for change." This means the government chose to ignore the protesters' requests.

* "My child's pleas for a new toy fell on deaf ears." This means the parent did not listen to or acknowledge their child's request.

* "She turned a deaf ear to her friend's advice, and ended up making the same mistake again." This means she intentionally ignored her friend's suggestion, even though it could have helped her.

The phrase is a metaphor, comparing the act of ignoring someone to a person who cannot hear.