Have you ever ignored something or looked away from a certain situation? If yes, you were turning a blind eye. For example, someone was saying mean to you, but you pretended not to hear it. Someone was saying something mean to you, but you didn’t want to get into a fight, so you turned a blind eye. Continue reading to learn the meaning and origin of the English idiom “turn a blind eye.” We explain it simple enough for ESL students to understand it easily!
Turn a Blind Eye: English idiom and expression
Turning a Blind Eye
Turning a blind eye is a very common English idiom. However, if you don’t know what it actually means, it can be quite consuming. Just like a lot of other idioms and expressions, “turn a blind eye” doesn’t literally mean turning the blind eye. Instead, it means avoiding or pretending as if you haven’t seen something.
Turning a Blind Eye Meaning
Definition of turning a blind eye: to ignore something
Other forms
Other forms of turning a blind eye depend on the sentence: turn a blind eye/turned a blind eye
Synonyms
Some words and phrases that mean the same:
- ignore
- overlook
- make an exception
- stretch a point
- disregard
English Idiom: Turn a Blind Eye Meaning, Origin, and Examples
Origin of Turning a Blind Eye
It comes from a British military leader, Admiral Nelson, who was blind in one eye. In the early 1800s, he received orders to stop an attack on enemy ships. He looked through a telescope with his blind eye and said that he didn’t see flags telling him to stop, so he went ahead with the attack. The attack succeeded, and Nelson was promoted.
A fun fact is that the person who ordered Admiral Nelson to stop the attack ended up being fired!
Turn a Blind Eye Examples
Here are some example sentences using turn a blind eye.
- Sam’s boyfriend was cheating on her, but she turned a blind eye because she didn’t want to break up.
- A police officer should not turn a blind eye to illegal activities.
- When my parents ask me when I will introduce my girlfriend to them, I turn a blind eye.
Other English Vocabulary, Expressions, and Idioms
If you want to improve your English vocabulary or learn more common English expressions and idioms, check out the below articles!
Turning a Blind Eye
FAQs About Turn a Blind Eye
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the English idiom “turn a blind eye.”
What does turn a blind eye mean?
Turn a blind eye means to ignore something on purpose.
What is another phrase for turn a blind eye to?
Instead of turn a blind eye, you can say ignore, overlook, or disregard.
Who said turn a blind eye?
Admiral Nelson said “turn a blind eye” when he decided to purposefully disobey the order to stop the attack on enemy ships.
Turn a Blind Eye: Join the Conversation
What are your thoughts on this English idiom “turn a blind eye?” Try using it in a sentence! Let us know how you would use this expression in real life. Also, if there is an English expression you want to learn, let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.
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