believe (redirected from be unable to believe ears)

not believe a word of it

to not believe that something is true. Have you heard what they're saying about Andrew? I don't believe a word of it.

See also: word

can't believe your ears

if you can't believe your ears, you are very surprised at something that someone tells you. She couldn't believe her ears when they told her Jim had been arrested. (usually in past tenses)

See also: can't, ear

couldn't believe your eyes

if you say that you couldn't believe your eyes when you saw something, you mean that you were very surprised by it. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw him drive up in his new car. I could hardly believe my eyes. They'd made so many changes, it looked like a completely different house.

See also: couldn't, eye

have to be seen to be believed

if something has to be seen to be believed, it is so surprising or shocking that it is difficult to believe. The devastation had to be seen to be believed.

See also: seen

I'll believe it when I see it.

something that you say to show that you do not think something will happen, and you will not believe it until it does happen. He says he's going to decorate the house, but I'll believe it when I see it.

See also: I'll, see

If you believe that, you'll believe anything! (informal)

something that you say to emphasize that something is obviously not true. He said the car in front backed into him, and if you believe that, you'll believe anything!

See also: anything

make believe

imaginary or invented. I had to explain to Sam that it was only make believe and that they weren't real monsters.

Seeing is believing.

something that you say which means you can only believe that something surprising or strange is true if you see it yourself. I'd never have imagined my parents could dance, but seeing is believing.

See also: seeing

You('d) better believe it! (informal)

something that you say to emphasize that something strange or shocking is true. 'Does he really know the President?' 'You better believe it!'

See also: better

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believe it or not

this is surprising but true. She's back in college and, believe it or not, she's planning to get a degree in philosophy!

believe me

this is really true. And believe me, I was scared!

Usage notes: used to emphasize a statement

have to be seen to be believed

so extreme that it is difficult to accept. Our spacious new offices have to be seen to be believed!

See also: seen

make believe

to pretend. Claude made believe he hadn't heard what she said.

not believe your ears

to be very surprised by something that someone tells you. We couldn't believe our ears when we heard that our tickets weren't waiting for us at the airport ticket counter.

See also: ear

not believe your (own) eyes

to think that something you see is not likely to be real. She looked so different in a uniform, I couldn't believe my eyes.

Usage notes: sometimes scarcely or hardly are used instead of not: When he found the ring in the grass, he could scarcely believe his eyes.

See also: eye

not believe your (own) eyes

all eyes

See also: eye

you better believe it

yes, without any doubt. When I asked Springer if those folks still needed help, he said, "You better believe it. They need all the help they can get."

See also: better