"about one's ears" или "around one's ears"
приводить к полному крушению, фиаско, провалу; разрушать чьи-либо планы, надежды или счастье.
* /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./
Ср.: ON ONE'S HEAD.
Словари
B
