hear oneself think, can't

can't hear (oneself) think

Cannot concentrate on anything due to overwhelming noise. Can you turn down that blaring music? I can't hear myself think! There's so much construction going on during the day that you can't even hear yourself think over the chorus of jackhammers. I can hardly hear myself think with all that racket going on outside! I guess this is just life when your office building is next to a preschool.

See also: hear, think

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hear oneself think, can't

Be unable to concentrate because there is too much noise. For example, There was so much noise from the jackhammers we couldn't hear ourselves think. [Early 1900s]

See also: hear

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.