a deaf ear

franc 91 · **Posted:** Mon 03 Oct 2011 4:43 pm

I see that a deaf ear is Bodhaire Uí Laoire - what's the story behind that and what's it got to do with the O'Leary's?

Bríd Mhór · **Joined:** Sun 28 Aug 2011 8:29 pm **Posts:** 2996

franc 91 wrote:

I see that a deaf ear is Bodhaire Uí Laoire - what's the story behind that and what's it got to do with the O'Leary's?

I never heard that expression.

We've always said "cluas bhodhar"

franc 91 · **Posted:** Mon 03 Oct 2011 8:17 pm

I found it on (or should I say in) Pota Focal - there's another one about Bertie O'Hernia meaning self-satisfied I think it was.

Saoirse · **Posted:** Mon 03 Oct 2011 9:22 pm

franc 91 wrote:

I found it on (or should I say in) Pota Focal - there's another one about Bertie O'Hernia meaning self-satisfied I think it was.

franc 91 · **Posted:** Tue 04 Oct 2011 12:19 pm

Here's the reference in Pota Focal which comes under the word - bodhar

Bodhaire Uí Laoire (a deaf ear) - "Bodhaire Uí Laoire i dTaca le Mac Cárthaigh Ach d'imigh sin agus tháinig seo.
there's also - (coddling himself) - "Trí rud a insíonn dom Teacht an fhómhair.....>(as Corn na Flúirse) An té nach gcloiseann rithimí áille ársa sna sé línte sin tá bodhaire Uí Laoire air nó is bodhar ar fad atá sé.

Bríd Mhór · **Joined:** Sun 28 Aug 2011 8:29 pm **Posts:** 2996

http://www.fiosfeasa.com/proverbs.asp?cid=736

"Bodhaire Uí Laoghaire.
O'Leary's deafness.
Explanation: When you don't hear what you don't want to. "

I don't think that is quite the same thing as "deaf ear".

Cambridge online dictionary give this for deaf ear.
"to ignore someone when they complain or ask for something"
which is what I'd think of too.

Ofcourse it could be the difinition in Fios Feasa that is not quite right.

Scooby · **Joined:** Tue 06 Sep 2011 7:18 pm **Posts:** 576

Bríd Mhór wrote:

http://www.fiosfeasa.com/proverbs.asp?cid=736

"Bodhaire Uí Laoghaire.
O'Leary's deafness.
Explanation: When you don't hear what you don't want to. "

I don't think that is quite the same thing as "deaf ear".

Cambridge online dictionary give this for deaf ear.
"to ignore someone when they complain or ask for something"
which is what I'd think of too.

Ofcourse it could be the difinition in Fios Feasa that is not quite right.

I agree. I'd translate it as 'selective hearing' - like when my kid is asked to clean up, he manages not to hear me, but just a whisper of McDonalds and he has his coat on!

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