- To deliberately ignore something that you know is wrong, improper, or illegal.
- To pretend not to see or notice something problematic.
Explanation
Origin
- Famously attributed to British Admiral Horatio Nelson during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
- His commander signaled for him to withdraw, but Nelson, who was blind in one eye, lifted his telescope to his blind eye and claimed he could not see the signal.
- He continued the attack and won, popularizing the phrase for deliberate ignoring.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Look the other way
- Let it slide
- Sweep it under the rug/carpet (implies hiding it)
- Play dumb
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Not give a fuck/shit about it
- Ignore the fucking problem
- Pretend you didn't see shit
Milder/Formal:
- Choose to overlook
- Deliberately disregard
- Tacitly permit
- Condone through inaction
- Willfully ignore
Situational Appropriateness
- Can be used in informal to formal contexts.
- Always carries a connotation of knowing about wrongdoing and choosing not to act, which can imply criticism or complicity.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The meaning is usually clear. The key point for learners is that it implies *awareness* of the problem being ignored, not simply ignorance.
Examples
- The authorities often turn a blind eye to minor traffic violations.
- You can't just turn a blind eye to bullying.
- She knew her friend was cheating but decided to turn a blind eye.
Dialogue
Employee 1: Did you notice that Mark took office supplies home again?
Employee 2: Yeah, I saw. But the manager seems to turn a blind eye to that kind of small stuff.
Employee 1: Hmm, I suppose it's not worth making a fuss, but it still doesn't feel right.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: We cannot turn a blind eye to injustice in our communities. Silence is complicity. #SpeakUp #SocialJustice
- Forum post: My neighbor's dog barks constantly, but animal control seems to turn a blind eye. What can I do? #neighbors #advice
- News headline commentary: Report suggests regulators turned a blind eye to safety concerns for years. #scandal #accountability
Response Patterns
- Disapproval/Condemnation: That's wrong! They shouldn't turn a blind eye. / How could they ignore that?
- Understanding/Resignation: I guess they felt they had no choice. / Sometimes it's easier to turn a blind eye.
- Justification (if defending the action): Turning a blind eye was the pragmatic choice in that situation.
- Inquiry: Why would they turn a blind eye to something like that?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Discussing the reasons behind the inaction.
- Debating the ethical implications.
- Considering the potential consequences of ignoring the issue.
- Discussing whether intervention is necessary.
Conversation Starter
- No. Used to describe a specific (in)action in response to an observed problem.
Intonation
- Stress often falls on BLIND EYE. They chose to TURN a BLIND EYE.
- Can convey disapproval or resignation depending on context.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used by all generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in all English-speaking regions.