ENGLISH
REFERENCE

turn a blind eye

idiom

To deliberately or knowingly ignore, overlook, or refuse to acknowledge something, especially when improper or unpleasant; to look the other way.


Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 03

    blind date

    A date (romantic meeting) between two people who have never met before.

  4. 04

    blind leading the blind

    A situation in which an unqualified person is attempting to guide, advise, or train others.

  5. 05

    blind with science

    To overwhelm someone with details in order to influence or mislead them.

  6. 06

    blink of an eye

    A moment (a very short period of time).

  7. 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.

  8. 08

    camel through the eye of a needle

    Hyperbole to illustrate something that is impossible to do or to make happen.

© 2026 English Reference