I see, said the blind man
Expressing confusion.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I see, said the blind man, as he picked up his hammer and saw.”
“When the teacher explained the complex math problem for the third time, the student muttered, I see, said the blind man, still looking completely confused.”
“He offered a weak smile and replied, I see, said the blind man, though it was clear to everyone in the room that he had understood absolutely nothing of the instructions.”
first recorded 19th c.
USA, about 1860. This form of word play is known as a Wellerism.
- 01
be a man
To put up with something or take responsibility for it; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without complaining.
- 02
be one's own man
To behave independently without the influence of others.
- 03
be the bigger man
To walk away from a conflict to prevent it from escalating.
- 04
blind date
A date (romantic meeting) between two people who have never met before.
- 05
blind leading the blind
A situation in which an unqualified person is attempting to guide, advise, or train others.
- 06
blind with science
To overwhelm someone with details in order to influence or mislead them.
- 07
boldly go where no man has gone before
To break new ground.
- 08
broken man
A man who has suffered significant and enduring emotional pain as a result of a highly unpleasant or traumatic event.
Last updated August 10, 2026