you could have heard a pin drop

could hear a pin drop

Could hear nothing at all because it was completely quiet and still. After the boss's outburst, the meeting room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Waiting to see what happened next in the play, everyone in the audience stayed so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
See also: could, drop, hear, pin
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

you could have heard a ˈpin drop

it was extremely quiet: When the play finished you could have heard a pin drop.
See also: could, drop, have, hear, pin
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • hear a pin drop, can
  • could hear a pin drop
  • you could hear a pin drop
  • you could hear the grass grow(ing)
  • curse (someone) under (one's) breath
  • hear from
  • hear from (one)
  • mutter
  • mutter (something) under (one's) breath
  • fancy that
References in periodicals archive
A voice suddenly piped up: "More like cake retention!" You could have heard a pin drop.
Kids' Talk; your letters
Louis Post-Dispatch: "You could have heard a pin drop on the floor of the Missouri House during a recent mock debate to train freshman legislators after newcomer Representative-elect Cynthia Davis, Republican-O'Fallon, committed the first gaffe.
De-mock-racy at work. (No Comment)