shut one's eyes
To ignore or deliberately overlook.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He shuts his eyes to the problems at work.”
“She knows her friend is lying, but she chooses to shut her eyes to the truth.”
“Although the evidence of corruption was undeniable, the committee members continued to shut their eyes to the reality of the situation.”
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abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
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ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
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afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
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air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
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air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026