Turn a blind eye: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
imported>Bruce M. Tindall m (Insignificant change to force appearance in appropriate category lists) |
John Leach (talk | contribs) m (Text replacement - "Admiral" to "Admiral") |
||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
The phrase ''turn a blind eye'' is attributed to an incident in the life of | The phrase ''turn a blind eye'' is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral [[Horatio Nelson]].<ref name=Phrases/> | ||
Nelson was blinded in one eye earlier in his [[Royal Navy]] career.<ref name=Phrases/> | Nelson was blinded in one eye earlier in his [[Royal Navy]] career.<ref name=Phrases/> | ||
Latest revision as of 17:28, 17 March 2024
The idiom to turn a blind eye is used to describe the process of ignoring unpopular orders, or inconvenient facts or activities.[1]
The phrase turn a blind eye is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson.[1]
Nelson was blinded in one eye earlier in his Royal Navy career.[1] During the Battle of Copenhagen cautious Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, in overall command of the British forces, ordered Nelson's forces to withdraw. Naval orders were transmitted via a system of signal flags at that time. And when this order was drawn to the more aggressive Nelson's attention he lifted his telescope up to his blind eye, said he didn't see any signal, and ordered his forces to successfully press home the attack.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 turn a blind eye, phrasefinder. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.