A tin ear noun phrase
Not have musical ability, especially in relation to proper pitch
Jame has a tin ear for music. He can't carry a tune.
I have a tin ear for music although I was born into a musical family.
Not have an ability for recognizing subtleties in language
Mary has a tin ear because she gazed at me in disbelief and didn't realize that I was joking.
I have a tin ear, so I was puzzled at first to hear her say this.
The key element of funny speech and writing is shortness.
a joke, idea, or suggestion falls flat, meaning that it does not achieve the intended effect.
A joking phrase used when someone receives a small amount of money
The word was used in the early part of the twentieth century to describe someone who was musically insensitive, or tone-deaf.