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

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