Faire la sourde oreille
To ignore
Je lui ai demandé de ranger la cuisine, mais il fait la sourde oreille depuis ce matin.
You've reminded your roommate three times to pay you back and he keeps changing the subject, so you complain that he's "doing the deaf ear."
Literally "to make the deaf ear."
In practice it means to deliberately ignore what someone is saying or pretend you didn't hear, especially when it's inconvenient or annoying. It often implies you could respond but choose not to (so it's a bit reproachful). You'll hear it a lot in everyday talk about kids, coworkers, or anyone dodging a request.
"Faire la sourde oreille" does not mean to spill a secret, to take it personally, to change the subject. It specifically means "To ignore".
Why Learn Survive fighting & dating a French Person?
🎯 Why Learn French Dating and Relationship Language
Dating a French person or living in France means navigating a completely different communication culture. The French communicate with directness, passion, and a level of emotional expression that can shock English speakers. If you've studied French for years but still feel lost during arguments with your French partner, confused by their texts, or awkward at family dinners, this course provides the missing vocabulary. Real relationship fluency requires understanding not just what people say when they're happy, but how they fight, flirt, tease, and express frustration.
👤 Who This Course Is For
This course is perfect for intermediate French learners (B1-B2 level) who are dating French speakers, living in France, or planning to immerse themselves in French social life. It's designed for adults who want practical, real-world vocabulary that actually matters in daily life — not tourist phrases or formal business French. You should already have a solid foundation in French grammar and be ready to explore the informal, emotional, and sometimes colorful language that characterizes real French relationships and social interactions.
📚 What You'll Learn
Master dozens of essential expressions for French romantic relationships and social life. Learn how to flirt naturally, express affection with appropriate terms of endearment, navigate arguments and conflicts with the right vocabulary, understand family dinner conversations full of informal expressions, decode text messages with French slang and abbreviations, and recognize when someone's genuinely angry versus playfully teasing. You'll learn expressions for making up after fights, discussing relationship issues, expressing jealousy or frustration, and everything in between.