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  • Tin-eared --- ( Tin-man and Thin-man related ? )

    From HenHanna@NewsGrouper@user4055@newsgrouper.org.invalid to rec.puzzles,sci.lang,alt.usage.english,alt.english.usage on Wed Apr 1 16:52:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.puzzles




    I'm wondering if Tin-man and Thin-man are related.


    Tin-eared and Tenured can sound similar


    Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> posted:

    Le 01/04/2026 |a 10:42, occam a |-crit :

    [AI definition] "Tin-eared" is an idiom describing
    a lack of sensitivity to music, tone, or language, often implying
    someone is tone-deaf. It also commonly refers to an inability to
    understand social nuances, public mood, or subtleties in communication, rendering a person indifferent or insensitive to others' feelings.

    My question - why tin, when other metals are also available?


    "Tin" must refer to THE generic Metal ?


    Google's AI traces it to tin ear-trumpets and deafness. Google Books
    finds instances of the phrase 'tin ear trumpet' in books from the 19th Century.

    <https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=tin+ear+trumpet&year_start=1800&year_end=2022&corpus=en&smoothing=3>

    The OED, on the other hand, equates 'tin ear' to 'cauliflower ear', with tone-deafness as a second meaning. Its first citation is from 1923.

    Next, 'cloth-eared' (I don't think ear-trumpets were ever made out of cloth)rCa.

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  • From Mr. Man-wai Chang@toylet.toylet@gmail.com to rec.puzzles,sci.lang,alt.usage.english,alt.english.usage on Fri Apr 3 13:18:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.puzzles

    On 4/2/2026 12:52 AM, HenHanna@NewsGrouper wrote:

    I'm wondering if Tin-man and Thin-man are related.
    Tin-eared and Tenured can sound similar

    How about "force" and "farce"? :)
    --
    @~@ Simplicity is Beauty! Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch!
    / v \ May the Force and farces be with you! Live long and prosper!!
    /( _ )\ https://sites.google.com/site/changmw/
    ^ ^ https://github.com/changmw/changmw
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  • From David Entwistle@qnivq.ragjvfgyr@ogvagrearg.pbz to rec.puzzles on Fri Apr 10 09:09:57 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.puzzles

    On Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:52:50 GMT, HenHanna@NewsGrouper wrote:

    Next, 'cloth-eared' (I don't think ear-trumpets were ever made out of
    cloth)rCa.

    I don't know, but would suspect 'cloth-eared' would originate from the
    common deafness associated with working long hours, and without
    protection, in the noisy environment of a weaving or spinning mill.

    It was certainly a common term in Lancashire, where I grew up.

    Mee-mawing was also common.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mee-mawing
    --
    David Entwistle
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