Idiom
turn a blind eye
Meanings
To deliberately ignore wrongdoing, a rule, or an obvious problem.
Definition
To turn a blind eye means to intentionally ignore something wrong or problematic.
To turn a blind eye means to pretend you do not notice something, especially something you know is wrong. People use it when someone ignores a problem to avoid conflict, responsibility, or trouble. It often suggests the person could act but chooses not to.
Examples
- The supervisor turned a blind eye to employees leaving early.
- If the neighbors turn a blind eye, the noise will never stop.
- The referee turned a blind eye to the clear foul.
- The company turned a blind eye to safety complaints for years.
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