deaf as a doorpost

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Stone deaf (unable to hear at all).

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

And grandmother sat in her rocker before the fireplace, deaf as a doorpost and half-blind as well.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “deaf as a doorpost” mean?

Stone deaf (unable to hear at all).

Is “deaf as a doorpost” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.