turn a blind eye

turn a blind eye
{v. phr.} To pretend not to see; not pay attention. * /The corrupt police chief turned a blind eye to the open gambling in the town./ * /Bob turned a blind eye to the "No Fishing" sign./ Compare: CLOSE ONE'S EYES.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • turn a blind eye — When people turn a blind eye, they deliberately ignore something, especially if people are doing something wrong …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • turn a blind eye — ► turn a blind eye pretend not to notice. [ORIGIN: said to be in allusion to Nelson, who lifted a telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen (1801), thus not seeing the signal to ‘discontinue the action’.] Main Entry: ↑blind …   English terms dictionary

  • turn a blind eye to — turn a blind eye (to (something)) to ignore something. Sometimes a store might sell stolen goods because the owner has turned a blind eye to where they come from …   New idioms dictionary

  • turn a blind eye — (to (something)) to ignore something. Sometimes a store might sell stolen goods because the owner has turned a blind eye to where they come from …   New idioms dictionary

  • turn a blind eye to — To pretend not to see • • • Main Entry: ↑eye …   Useful english dictionary

  • turn a blind eye — verb refuse to acknowledge He turns a blind eye to the injustices in his office • Hypernyms: ↑dismiss, ↑disregard, ↑brush aside, ↑brush off, ↑discount, ↑push aside, ↑ignore …   Useful english dictionary

  • turn a blind eye —    When people turn a blind eye, they deliberately ignore something, especially if people are doing something wrong.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If you turn a blind eye to something, you pretend not to notice what someone is doing.… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • turn a blind eye — to choose to ignore behaviour that you know is wrong. I knew Kenny was taking the money but I turned a blind eye because he was my sister s child. Management often turn a blind eye to bullying in the workplace. (often + to) …   New idioms dictionary

  • turn a blind eye — phrasal to refuse to see ; be oblivious < might turn a blind eye to the use of violence Arthur Krock > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • turn a blind eye — verb To ignore or deliberately overlook, especially with respect to something unpleasant or improper. In this my countrymen, without having produced any really very great work, by the old standards, make a respectable show. . . . In saying this,… …   Wiktionary

  • turn a blind eye (to something) — phrase to pretend you do not notice something, because you should do something about it but you do not want to We’re not supposed to park here, but the authorities usually turn a blind eye. Thesaurus: to pretend something is not happening or is… …   Useful english dictionary

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