Idiom
Turn a blind eye
If you turn a blind eye to something, you pretend not to notice it, usually something wrong that you should deal with.
How people use it
The usual pattern is "turn a blind eye to" something: "The manager turned a blind eye to staff coming in late." It suggests a choice; the person sees the problem but decides to ignore it. It can be kind, as when a teacher overlooks a small slip, or it can be a criticism when someone ignores rule-breaking or unfairness. The tone is neutral, so it works in news writing as well as in conversation.
Also said: turn a blind eye to.
Examples
- The coach turned a blind eye when players ate snacks on the bus.
- We can't turn a blind eye to the leaking roof any longer.
- Some parents turn a blind eye to late bedtimes during summer break.
Where it comes from
The phrase is often linked to the British admiral Horatio Nelson. During a naval battle in 1801, he is said to have raised his telescope to his blind eye so that he could claim he never saw a signal ordering him to stop. The story is famous, but its details are debated, and similar wording about a blind eye may be older. Either way, the Nelson tale helped make the phrase popular.
Check yourself
1. What does it mean to turn a blind eye to a problem?
Answer: To ignore it on purpose. Turning a blind eye means choosing not to notice something.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: The landlord turned a blind eye to the extra cat in apartment 4B.. The idiom means deliberately ignoring something, not acting on it right away.
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