turn a blind eye

You use this phrase when someone in authority lets something slide. It usually involves a person who should be enforcing a rule but decides not to. You can say someone turned a blind eye to something. For example, The teacher turned a blind eye to the students whispering. It sounds more natural than just saying 'ignored.' It implies a conscious decision to be merciful or lazy.

Use it in the workplace when a boss ignores a minor policy break. Use it with friends when you see them doing something slightly embarrassing. It is perfect for describing a situation where someone 'looks the other way.' It works well in news reports or when discussing history and politics. If your roommate leaves dirty dishes again, you might turn a blind eye just to keep the peace.

Don't use this for things you genuinely didn't see. If you missed a phone call because you were sleeping, you didn't turn a blind eye to it. Also, avoid using it for very positive things. You don't turn a blind eye to a beautiful sunset. It is almost always used for negative actions or rule-breaking. Using it for a major tragedy might sound too casual or insensitive, so be careful.

This phrase has a cool history involving the British Admiral Horatio Nelson. During a naval battle in 1801, his superiors signaled him to retreat. Nelson had one blind eye from a previous injury. He put his telescope to his blind eye and said, 'I really do not see the signal!' He kept fighting and won. Now, we use it whenever we pretend not to see the 'stop' sign.

You might hear people say look the other way which means the exact same thing. Sometimes people say close your eyes to a problem. However, turn a blind eye is the most classic version. It is a strong idiom that native speakers use daily without even thinking about the literal meaning.