The teacher turned a blind eye to the students whispering during the test.
turn a blind eye
idiomTo deliberately or knowingly ignore, overlook, or refuse to acknowledge something, especially when improper or unpleasant; to look the other way.
Origin
first recorded 19th c. disputed originProbably from the idea of a person turning to look at something but not seeing it, as if their eyes are blind. The term is frequently claimed to originate from an incident during the First Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801, when Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758–1805) was ordered by Admiral Hyde Parker (1739–1807) through signal flags to discontinue naval action against a force of the Dano-Norwegian Navy. Nelson, who had been blinded in one eye early in his career, said to his flag captain Thomas Foley (1757–1833), “You know, Foley, I have only one eye—I have a right to be blind sometimes.” He then put his telescope to his blind eye and, remarking “I really do not see the signal,” continued the assault which ended in a British victory. However, this is not the source of the term as the Oxford English Dictionary records uses dating to the 17th and 18th centuries.
The manager knew the employees were leaving early, but he turned a blind eye because they finished their work on time.
Although the corruption within the department was an open secret, the director chose to turn a blind eye to maintain the appearance of institutional stability.
- 01
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.
- 02
apple of someone's eye
The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
- 03
blind date
A date (romantic meeting) between two people who have never met before.
- 04
blind leading the blind
A situation in which an unqualified person is attempting to guide, advise, or train others.
- 05
blind with science
To overwhelm someone with details in order to influence or mislead them.
- 06
blink of an eye
A moment (a very short period of time).
- 07
Buggins's turn
A humorous, disparaging term for the appointment of a person by rotation or promotion, on the basis of length of service (it being that person's "turn") rather than merit or level of qualification.
- 08
camel through the eye of a needle
Hyperbole to illustrate something that is impossible to do or to make happen.