To turn a blind eye/deaf ear In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "to turn a blind eye/deaf ear", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Eudora Thao

2021-04-23 03:04

Meaning of To turn a blind eye/deaf ear

Synonyms:

fall on deaf ears

To turn a blind eye/deaf ear American informal verb phrase

To deliberately ignore what one says, complains or asks for, or something wrong

I turned a deaf ear to her complaint.

I know he lies to me many times, but I still turn a blind eye and wait for him to tell the truth.

Rosie knows her boss' illegal behaviors, but she decided to turn a blind eye.

You shouldn't have turned a deaf ear to his warning.

Grammar and Usage of To turn a blind eye/deaf ear

Verb Forms

turned a blind eye to something
turning a blind eye to something
turns a blind eye to something

The verb "turn" should be conjugated according to its tense.

Origin of To turn a blind eye/deaf ear

This phrase is related to be a reference to Admiral Horatio Nelson ( 1758–1805 ) who raised his telescope to his blind eye during the Battle of Copenhagen (1801), thus he did not see the sign of his superior. Besides, there has another version of "turn a Nelson eye".