turn a blind eye

Related to turn a blind eye: turn a deaf ear

turn a blind eye

To knowingly ignore some wrongdoing. Can't you just turn a blind eye to this little incident, instead of telling Mom and Dad? Regulators turned a blind eye to those infractions, and thousands of consumers suffered for it.

See also: blind, eye, turn

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

turn a blind eye (to someone or something)

Fig. to ignore something and pretend you do not see it. The usher turned a blind eye to the little boy who sneaked into the theater. How can you turn a blind eye to all those starving children?

See also: blind, eye, turn

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

turn a blind eye

COMMON If you turn a blind eye to something bad that is happening, you deliberately ignore it because you do not want to take any action over it. The authorities were turning a blind eye to human rights abuses. She chose to turn a blind eye to what she suspected was going on. You're not trying to suggest I should turn a blind eye and forget all about it? Note: This expression was first used to describe the action of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. When told that he was being ordered to withdraw, he put a telescope to his blind eye and said that he could not see the signal. He went on to win the battle.

See also: blind, eye, turn

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

turn a blind eye

pretend not to notice.

This phrase is said to be a reference to Admiral Horatio Nelson ( 1758–1805 ), who lifted a telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen ( 1801 ), thereby ensuring that he failed to see his superior's signal to discontinue the action. A less usual version, referring directly to this story, is turn a Nelson eye .

See also: blind, eye, turn

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

turn a blind ˈeye (to something)

pretend not to see something or know about something: There’s so much suffering in the world, you can’t just turn a blind eye to it. The police here seem to turn a blind eye to petty crime. OPPOSITE: watch somebody/something like a hawk

See also: blind, eye, turn

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

turn a blind eye/deaf ear, to

To overlook something deliberately. One of these expressions appears to have a specific historic origin. In 1801 Lord Horatio Nelson, second in command of the English fleet, was besieging Copenhagen. The flagship had sent up signals for the fleet to withdraw, but Nelson wanted badly to attack. He had lost the sight of one eye at Calvi, so he put the glass to his blind eye and told his lieutenant he could see no signals to withdraw. His attack forced the French to surrender, a major victory. “Turning a deaf ear” to what one does not wish to hear is much older. Walter Hylton (Scala Perfeccionis) used it about 1440: “Make deef ere to hem as though thou herde hem not.” Versions of the cliché are found in all of the principal proverb collections from 1546 (John Heywood) to 1721 (James Kelly). See also fall on deaf ears.

词组	turn a blind eye
释义	turn a blind eye Related to turn a blind eye: turn a deaf ear turn a blind eye To knowingly ignore some wrongdoing. Can't you just turn a blind eye to this little incident, instead of telling Mom and Dad? Regulators turned a blind eye to those infractions, and thousands of consumers suffered for it. See also: blind, eye, turn Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. turn a blind eye (to someone or something) Fig. to ignore something and pretend you do not see it. The usher turned a blind eye to the little boy who sneaked into the theater. How can you turn a blind eye to all those starving children? See also: blind, eye, turn McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. turn a blind eye COMMON If you turn a blind eye to something bad that is happening, you deliberately ignore it because you do not want to take any action over it. The authorities were turning a blind eye to human rights abuses. She chose to turn a blind eye to what she suspected was going on. You're not trying to suggest I should turn a blind eye and forget all about it? Note: This expression was first used to describe the action of Admiral Nelson at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. When told that he was being ordered to withdraw, he put a telescope to his blind eye and said that he could not see the signal. He went on to win the battle. See also: blind, eye, turn Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. turn a blind eye pretend not to notice. This phrase is said to be a reference to Admiral Horatio Nelson ( 1758–1805 ), who lifted a telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen ( 1801 ), thereby ensuring that he failed to see his superior's signal to discontinue the action. A less usual version, referring directly to this story, is turn a Nelson eye . See also: blind, eye, turn Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary turn a blind ˈeye (to something) pretend not to see something or know about something: There’s so much suffering in the world, you can’t just turn a blind eye to it. The police here seem to turn a blind eye to petty crime. OPPOSITE: watch somebody/something like a hawk See also: blind, eye, turn Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary turn a blind eye/deaf ear, to To overlook something deliberately. One of these expressions appears to have a specific historic origin. In 1801 Lord Horatio Nelson, second in command of the English fleet, was besieging Copenhagen. The flagship had sent up signals for the fleet to withdraw, but Nelson wanted badly to attack. He had lost the sight of one eye at Calvi, so he put the glass to his blind eye and told his lieutenant he could see no signals to withdraw. His attack forced the French to surrender, a major victory. “Turning a deaf ear” to what one does not wish to hear is much older. Walter Hylton (Scala Perfeccionis) used it about 1440: “Make deef ere to hem as though thou herde hem not.” Versions of the cliché are found in all of the principal proverb collections from 1546 (John Heywood) to 1721 (James Kelly). See also fall on deaf ears. See also: blind, deaf, eye, turn The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: turn a blind eye to turn a blind eye to (something) turn a blind eye/deaf ear, to stone blind stone-blind big eye black eye a black eye cock an eye at (someone or something) blind drunk References in periodicals archive He says: "I was told I should turn a blind eye to some things as it was giving the game a bad name. Pundit writes shinty off! In that he wrote: "The FA are investigating, for exactly what?" Republic of Ireland international McClean also claimed the FA "turn a blind eye" to THE "years" of abuse he has received. "They turn a blind eye and not a single word or condemnation of any sort." McClean is warned by English FA We did not turn a blind eye to the butchers of Europe during the darkest days of the Second World War. Voice of the Mirror: Save these victims from tyrant's evil He added: "They would rather turn a blind eye to it. Care chiefs 'turn a blind eye to abuse'
随便看	throw caution to the winds throw chunks throw cold water on throw cold water on (something) throw dirt enough, and some will stick throw discretion to the wind(s) throw down throwdown gun throw down the gauntlet throw down the gauntlet, to throw dust in (one's) eyes throw dust in (one's) face throw dust in someone's eyes throw dust in someone's eyes, to throw enough dirt, and some will stick throw enough mud, and some will stick throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick throw for a loss throw good money after bad throw good money after bad, to throw hands up throw hands up in horror throw in throw in face throw in Go to throw