From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfall on stony groundfall on stony groundBritish English if a request, suggestion, joke etc falls on stony ground, it is ignored or people do not like it → fall
Examples from the Corpus
fall on stony ground• Joseph's words fell on stony ground.• Some initiatives have already fallen on stony ground, but, as we see in subsequent features, others keep coming.• Their marriages had fallen on stony ground but it seemed to me there was still hope.• Alan's charming smile fell on stony ground with her.fall on stony groundfall on stony groundIGNOREif a request, suggestion, joke etc falls on stony ground, it is ignored or people do not like it → stonyExamples from the Corpus
fall on stony ground• Joseph's words fell on stony ground.• Some initiatives have already fallen on stony ground, but, as we see in subsequent features, others keep coming.• Their marriages had fallen on stony ground but it seemed to me there was still hope.• Alan's charming smile fell on stony ground with her. 