0400 Turn a blind eye - English Idioms

Home
TIME & TIMING
Body Part Idioms
[0400] Turn a blind eye

Explanation

To deliberately ignore something wrong, illegal, or unpleasant that you know is happening.
To pretend not to notice something one should probably take action against.

Origin

Often associated with British Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen (1801).
Nelson had lost sight in one eye earlier in his career.
During the battle, his superior officer signaled for him to withdraw.
Nelson, wanting to continue the attack, famously lifted his telescope to his blind eye and claimed, I really do not see the signal!
He ignored the order and went on to win the battle. This act popularized the phrase for deliberately ignoring something.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Let it slide (Choose not to react to or punish a minor offense)

More Formal/Legalistic:

Willful ignorance (Intentionally avoiding knowledge of wrongdoing)
Neglect one's duty (If ignoring something is part of their responsibility)

Milder:

Choose to overlook it
Decide not to intervene

Situational Appropriateness

Can be used in informal, semi-formal, and formal contexts to describe the act of ignoring wrongdoing.
Carries a negative connotation, implying neglect of responsibility or a lack of moral courage.

Misunderstanding Warnings

Learners need to understand the deliberate nature and the negative implication – it's not simply *not seeing* something, but *choosing* not to acknowledge something known.

Examples

The teacher turned a blind eye to the minor chatter in the classroom.
Management knew about the safety violations but turned a blind eye.
You can't just turn a blind eye to corruption.

Dialogue

Employee A: Did you see Gary taking office supplies home again?

Employee B: Yeah, I saw. But honestly, the boss knows and just turns a blind eye. It's not worth causing trouble over a few pens.

Employee A: I don't know... it feels wrong that nobody says anything.

Employee B: Maybe, but picking that battle isn't worth it for me.

Response Patterns

That's wrong. / They shouldn't do that.
Why would they ignore it?
I know, it's terrible. (Agreeing with the disapproval)
Sometimes, defensively: What was I supposed to do? (If accused of doing it)

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After hearing someone turned a blind eye:

Discussion often focuses on the reasons for ignoring the issue (fear, convenience, complicity).
Might lead to questions about the consequences of ignoring the problem.
Might prompt discussion about who *should* take action.

Conversation Starter

No.
Describes a specific (usually negative) reaction or inaction regarding a situation.

Intonation

Often spoken with a tone of disapproval, criticism, or sometimes resignation.
Stress often falls on blind eye.
He just TURNED a BLIND EYE to the whole situation.

Generation Differences

Widely understood across generations. The historical origin (Nelson) may be less known, but the meaning is clear.

Regional Variations

Common in all major English-speaking regions.

See eye to eye

🎲 Wash your hands of something

[0400] Turn a blind eye