Turn a blind eye

Meaning

The idiom "turn a blind eye" means to pretend not to notice or care about something, especially something that is wrong or unpleasant. It is often used when someone is intentionally avoiding or ignoring a problem.

In contemporary language, the phrase "turn a blind eye" has a figurative meaning. It is often used as an insult to accuse someone of ignoring or avoiding a problem. For example:

• "Why do you always turn a blind eye to my mistakes?"
• "Don't turn a blind eye to this issue, it's important."

Usage

• The manager turned a blind eye to the employee's poor performance, hoping that they would improve on their own.
• The government turned a blind eye to the corruption in the financial industry, allowing it to continue unchecked for years.
• My friend always turns a blind eye to my jokes, even though they are terrible.
• Don't turn a blind eye to this issue, it's important and needs to be addressed.
• The police turned a blind eye to the drug dealers in the neighborhood, causing crime rates to skyrocket.

Roots and History

The phrase "turn a blind eye" is thought to have originated from the ancient practice of closing one eye while weighing something on a scale, in order to ensure accuracy. This was done by turning the head so that the closed eye could not be seen. Over time, the phrase has taken on a figurative meaning and is used to describe someone who intentionally ignores or avoids something.

Synonyms in English

• Look the other way
• Pretend not to notice
• Ignore
• Avoid
• Suppress

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "Tourner le dos" (to turn one's back)
• German: "Das Auge schließen" (to close an eye)
• Spanish: "Cerrar los ojos" (to close the eyes)
• Italian: "Chiusi gli occhi" (to close the eyes)
• Chinese: "关闭眼睛" (to close the eyes)

Similar Idioms

• turn a deaf ear

• look forward

• tip of the iceberg