以耳代目

以耳代目 [yǐ ěr dài mù]

1. ■ relay on [upon] hearsay instead of seeing for oneself; be dependent on hearing instead of making a personal investigation or direct observation; believe in what others said without making personal investigation; hear and believe; let one's ears do duty for one's eyes; take what has been heard as if it has been seen; use ears instead of eyes