like talking to a wall

prepositional phrase

A futile or unsuccessful attempt at communication due to the ignorance or stubbornness of the other party.

“Are you even listening to me? It's like talking to a wall.”

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Meanings

prepositional phrase

alternative like talking to a brick wall

  1. idiomaticA futile or unsuccessful attempt at communication due to the ignorance or stubbornness of the other party.

    Are you even listening to me? It's like talking to a wall.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
preach to deaf ears

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 對牛彈琴 /对牛弹琴, 秀才遇到兵——有理說不清 /秀才遇到兵——有理说不清
  • 對牛彈琴 /对牛弹琴 (duìniútánqín)unsuccessful communication
  • 秀才遇到兵——有理說不清 /秀才遇到兵——有理说不清 (xiùcái yùdào bīng, yǒulǐ shuōbùqīng)unsuccessful communication
Czech jako házet hrách na stěnu
  • jako házet hrách na stěnuunsuccessful communication
Finnish kuin seinälle puhuisi
  • kuin seinälle puhuisiunsuccessful communication
Hungarian falra hányt borsó
  • falra hányt borsóunsuccessful communication
Polish groch o ścianę
  • groch o ścianęunsuccessful communication
Russian как об сте́нку горо́х
  • как об сте́нку горо́х (kak ob sténku goróx)unsuccessful communication
Scottish Gaelic mar a bhith a' bruidhinn ri each na chadal
  • mar a bhith a' bruidhinn ri each na chadalunsuccessful communication
Cite this entry
APA

like talking to a wall. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/like%20talking%20to%20a%20wall

MLA

“like talking to a wall.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/like%20talking%20to%20a%20wall. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “like talking to a wall,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/like%20talking%20to%20a%20wall.

Source: like talking to a wall on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.