tin ear
noun
an insensitivity to melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic variety in music.
an insensitivity to subtlety or appropriateness in verbal expression: a tin ear for clear, precise prose.
Origin of tin ear
First recorded in 1915–20
Words nearby tin ear
timur,
tin,
tin can,
tin cup,
tin difluoride,
tin ear,
tin fish,
tin god,
tin hat,
tin lizzie,
tin pan alley
Example sentences from the Web for tin ear
While McCain was at his most gracious, it was his audience who had the tin-ear.