deafening

deafening silence

A conspicuous and striking lack of noise or sound. Jim's proposal was met with deafening silence at the meeting. After living in the city all my life, I can't stand the deafening silence of the countryside. They still won't talk to each other, and it is so awkward in there, dude. I can't take the deafening silence.

See also: deafening, silence

the silence is deafening

1. The utter lack of noise or sound is distracting, unpleasant, or uncomfortable. I lived my whole life in the city, so to me the silence is deafening out here in the countryside.

2. The lack of a sound that one expects is conspicuous or ominous by its absence. After Jim finished delivering his proposal at the meeting, the silence was deafening. Clearly, the board was not impressed.

See also: deafening, silence

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

deafening silence

A silence or lack of response that reveals something significant, such as disapproval or a lack of enthusiasm.

See also: deafening, silence

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.