about one's ears
about one's ears or around one's ears {adv. phr.}
To or into complete collapse, defeat, or ruin; to the destruction of a person's plans, hopes, or happiness.
They planned to have factories all over the world but the war brought their plans down about their ears.
John hoped to go to college and become a great scientist some day, but when his father died he had to get a job, and John's dreams came crashing around his ears.
Compare: ON ONE'S HEAD.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
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