turn a blind eye

/tɜːrn ə blaɪnd aɪ/◆idiom

to deliberately ignore something

The manager turned a blind eye to the employee's misconduct.

The manager chose to ignore the employee's misconduct.

◆ What It Really Means

To deliberately ignore or overlook something, especially something wrong or problematic.

¶ Literal Meaning

To physically close one eye and not see something.

Literal Breakdown

turnto rotate or change direction+a blind eyean eye that cannot see

◇ Mental Image

The image of someone physically closing one eye to avoid seeing something, symbolizing a deliberate act of ignoring.

◈ When to Use

A supervisor notices an employee violating company policy but chooses not to take action, effectively turning a blind eye to the misconduct.

◉ Cultural Note

The phrase is often associated with Admiral Horatio Nelson, who famously turned a blind eye to a signal to attack during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, allowing him to continue his own strategy.

informal

To deliberately ignore or overlook something, especially something wrong or problematic.

The teacher turned a blind eye to the students' cheating during the exam.

The teacher ignored the students' cheating during the exam.

The government turned a blind eye to the human rights violations in the region.

The government deliberately overlooked the human rights violations.

This idiom is often used to describe a conscious decision to ignore something that should be addressed.

Synonyms

ignore overlook disregard overlook shut one's eyes to

Antonyms

address confront deal with face

Related Phrases

look the other wayidiom

to ignore something deliberately

bury one's head in the sandidiom

to avoid dealing with a problem

Pro Tip

Usage Context

This idiom is often used in situations where someone has the power or responsibility to address an issue but chooses not to.

Gold Rule

Connotation

The phrase often carries a negative connotation, implying that the person is avoiding their responsibilities.

Word Origin

The phrase originates from the naval practice of turning a blind eye to the enemy's ships to avoid confrontation. It was popularized by Admiral Horatio Nelson, who famously turned a blind eye to a signal to attack during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.

Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe a deliberate act of ignoring something that should be acknowledged or addressed.

English Dictionary

Browse more English→English words →