The earliest form of the expression dates back to 1857. Oxford English Dictionary defined it as “a menial task.” Another early meaning of the idiom meant someone was “hopelessly stupid," according to a publication from 1886. The phrase “not enough sense to pound sand” was a longer expression to say someone was extremely dumb. After World War II the phrase appears to change meaning, although it’s not clear exactly when and how this shift occurred. One source from 1948, Southeast Economist, implies that the intended meaning of “pound sand in your ears” meant “to soft pedal the noise, or tone down a situation.”
"Go Pound Sand: Meaning, Usage, and Origin", Krystal Craiker; March 17, 2022.
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