turn a blind eye to sth

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does turn a blind eye to sth mean? In what situations is turn a blind eye to sth used?

Meaning of "turn a blind eye to sth"

Meaning

The phrase “turn a blind eye to something” means to deliberately ignore or to not pay attention to something you don’t want to see. It is often used to describe instances where someone is not holding themselves or others accountable for something, even when they know it’s wrong.

Etymology

The phrase “turn a blind eye to something” originated from the naval battles at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, when British admiral Horatio Nelson famously used the phrase in response to a signal from the battle commander, Admiral Hyde Parker. Parker had signaled Nelson to disengage from the battle, but Nelson raised his telescope to his blind eye and declared he couldn’t see the signal. He continued to fight, ultimately winning the battle.

Usage

The phrase “turn a blind eye to something” is used most commonly to describe instances where someone is purposely disregarding something they know to be wrong or where they are not holding someone accountable for bad behavior. It can also be used to describe a scenario where an authority figure or government is deliberately not enforcing a law or policy.

Example Sentences

• The principal turned a blind eye to the bullying in the school, even though parents were complaining.
• My boss always turns a blind eye to my absences, as long as I get my work done.
• The government decided to turn a blind eye to the illegal immigrants, allowing them to stay in the country.

From One Language to Another: Idioms in Translation

Translating idioms from one language to another can be a tricky task, as the cultural context behind an idiom can be difficult to capture. For example, the French phrase "avoir le cafard" translates to "to have the cockroach," which means to feel down or depressed. Similarly, the Chinese idiom "????" (j?ng d? zh? w?) translates to "frog at the bottom of a well," which refers to someone with a narrow view of the world.