turn a blind eye to sth

Although the meanings of the words in them do not make any sense when examined one by one, the word groups that are shaped according to the cultural roots of the language and that make sense as a whole are called idioms. turn a blind eye to sth meaning, in what situations is it 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.

Idioms have a common language

"The early bird catches the worm" is an English idiom that means that those who wake up early and start their day early are more likely to succeed. A similar idiom in Spanish is "El que madruga, Dios le ayuda," which translates to "God helps those who rise early." This idiom emphasizes the importance of starting the day early in order to achieve success.