Understanding the Idiom 'Hard of Hearing': Meaning & Usage

To be hard of hearing means to have difficulty hearing. It can be used literally, to describe someone who has a hearing impairment, or figuratively, to describe someone who is not paying attention or is being deliberately obtuse.

For example, you might say that someone is "hard of hearing" if they don't seem to understand what you're saying, even though they're sitting right next to you. Or, you might say that someone is "hard of hearing" if they're always interrupting and not letting you finish what you're saying.

In either case, the phrase "hard of hearing" is used to convey the idea that someone is not listening properly.