to fall on deaf ears

Italian translation: cade nel vuoto

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:to fall on deaf ears
Italian translation:cade nel vuoto
Entered by: darwilliam

19:37 Nov 3, 2010
English to Italian translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / glossary/definitions
English term or phrase: to fall on deaf ears
(meaning: to be ignored, to get no attention or heed, etc.)

I know this is an idiom, but is there anything similar in Italian? An equivalent, not necessarily literal, something that doesn't get lost in translation though?
This is for a glossary sort of thing, so the context is not important, I made up an example just so it could be clear:

"His pleas fell on deaf ears. XX was sentenced to life imprisonment. His fate was decided by a jury..."

"I guess everything your grandpa told you fell on deaf ears, hu?"

Any suggestions? Thank you all in advance
darwilliam
China
Local time: 07:41
cade nel vuoto
Explanation:
a suggestion...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 min (2010-11-03 19:44:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

o anche "non trova ascolto" ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 min (2010-11-03 19:45:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

o anche "parlare con il muro"
Selected response from:

Elena Zanetti
Italy
Local time: 01:41
Grading comment
Thank you all very much for for precious thoughts, I would have selected them all as most useful answers. Just like luskie pointed out, the definition may vary according to context. And to BdiL, I would just like to say you should be a tiny bit more flexible, man.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +5cade nel vuoto
Elena Zanetti
3 +3parlare/predicare al vento
Francesca Casoli
3 +2cadere nel vuoto
AdamiAkaPataflo


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
cadere nel vuoto


Explanation:
for a glossary sort a thing I think it could fit :-)

AdamiAkaPataflo
Germany
Local time: 01:41
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 98

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sara Negro
20 mins
  -> grazie cara, troppo gentile! :-)

agree  BdiL: E visto che è un infinito nell'originale, meglio tradurlo con un infinito. (Questione di metodo.)
15 hrs
  -> ehilà, ciao caro! che bello che "a volte ritornano" ;-))) babaci
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +5
cade nel vuoto


Explanation:
a suggestion...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 min (2010-11-03 19:44:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

o anche "non trova ascolto" ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 min (2010-11-03 19:45:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

o anche "parlare con il muro"

Elena Zanetti
Italy
Local time: 01:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Italian
PRO pts in category: 34
Grading comment
Thank you all very much for for precious thoughts, I would have selected them all as most useful answers. Just like luskie pointed out, the definition may vary according to context. And to BdiL, I would just like to say you should be a tiny bit more flexible, man.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  AdamiAkaPataflo: la prima che hai detto :-)
1 min
  -> grazie e buona serata :-)

agree  luskie: perfetti cadere nel vuoto per le pleas e parlare al muro per il grandpa - non c'è una traduzione unica!
25 mins
  -> grazie !

agree  zerlina: o sì wufwuf:-)
44 mins
  -> ;-)

agree  Shera Lyn Parpia
1 hr
  -> grazie :-)

agree  Daniela Zambrini
3 hrs
  -> grazie!

neutral  BdiL: Probabilmente se parli "CON" il muro sei "rinchiuso" in manicomio (perché ti aspetti una risposta "dal muro"), al massimo si parla "AL" muro. Non si dice "facciamo 3 passi", ma sempre "2 o 4" perché è un'espr. idiomatica ("cristallizzata").
15 hrs
  -> si dice anche parlare con una persona...... /mi sembra di parlare con un muro...
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
parlare/predicare al vento


Explanation:
I am not sure if it could fit a glossary entry, but I would translate like that in the two examples you gave.

Francesca Casoli
Italy
Local time: 01:41
Native speaker of: Italian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  luskie: perfetto anche questo per il grandpa!
20 mins
  -> Grazie!

agree  zerlina
39 mins
  -> Grazie!

neutral  BdiL: Il nonnino parla al vento, i suoi pensieri no. C'è un rovesciamento di logica e di direzione che non mi trova d'accordo.
15 hrs
  -> Non c'è un rovesciamento di logica, ma solo di grammatica: i pensieri non hanno vita propria, è comunque il nonno che parla. Infatti la frase va certamente girata in fase di traduzione, ed è così che mi comporterei io trovandomela di fronte :D

agree  Simo Blom
21 hrs
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