медведь на ухо наступил

Russian

Etymology

Literally, “a bear trod on someone's ear”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [mʲɪdˈvʲetʲ nɐ‿ˈuxə nəstʊˈpʲiɫ]

Phrase

медве́дь на у́хо наступи́л • (medvédʹ na úxo nastupíl)

1. said of someone who is tone-deaf and has no ear for music [with dative ‘person who is tone-deaf’]

   Ему́ медве́дь на у́хо наступи́л. ― Jemú medvédʹ na úxo nastupíl. ― He has Van Gogh's ear for music.