Turning a blind eye is an idiom describing the ignoring of undesirable information.
Although the Oxford English Dictionary records usage of the phrase as early as 1698,[1] the phrase to turn a blind eye is often attributed to an incident in the life of Vice AdmiralHoratio Nelson. Nelson was blinded in one eye early in his Royal Navy career. During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 the cautious Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, in overall command of the British forces, sent a signal to Nelson's forces ordering them to discontinue the action. Naval orders were transmitted via a system of signal flags at that time. When this order was brought to the more aggressive Nelson's attention, he lifted his telescope up to his blind eye, saying, "I have a right to be blind sometimes. I really do not see the signal," and most of his forces continued to press home the attack.[2][3] The frigates supporting the line-of-battle ships did break off, in one case suffering severe losses in the retreat.[4]
There is a misconception that the order was to be obeyed at Nelson's discretion, but this is contradicted by the fact that it was a general order to all the attacking ships (some of whom did break off), and that later that day Nelson openly stated that he had "fought contrary to orders". Sir Hyde Parker was recalled in disgrace and Nelson appointed Commander-in-Chief of the fleet following the battle.[4]
^"to turn a (also †the) blind eye, under eye, adj., n.1, and adv.". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OED/7079005033. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.) See turn a blind eye at the English Wiktionary.
^Pocock, Tom (1987). Horatio Nelson. London: The Bodley Head. p. 237. ISBN0-370-31124-8.
^ abPope, Dudley (1972). The Great Gamble: Nelson at Copenhagen. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 576. ISBN0-671-21404-7.
External linksedit
Look up turn a blind eye in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
"Re: turn a blind eye". The Phrase Finder. 2001-03-30. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
January 01, 1970
turning, blind, blind, redirects, here, health, condition, visual, impairment, song, turn, blind, half, half, biscuit, four, lads, shook, wirral, idiom, describing, ignoring, undesirable, information, although, oxford, english, dictionary, records, usage, phra. Blind eye redirects here For the health condition see Visual impairment For the song Turn a Blind Eye by Half Man Half Biscuit see Four Lads Who Shook the Wirral Turning a blind eye is an idiom describing the ignoring of undesirable information Although the Oxford English Dictionary records usage of the phrase as early as 1698 1 the phrase to turn a blind eye is often attributed to an incident in the life of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson Nelson was blinded in one eye early in his Royal Navy career During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 the cautious Admiral Sir Hyde Parker in overall command of the British forces sent a signal to Nelson s forces ordering them to discontinue the action Naval orders were transmitted via a system of signal flags at that time When this order was brought to the more aggressive Nelson s attention he lifted his telescope up to his blind eye saying I have a right to be blind sometimes I really do not see the signal and most of his forces continued to press home the attack 2 3 The frigates supporting the line of battle ships did break off in one case suffering severe losses in the retreat 4 There is a misconception that the order was to be obeyed at Nelson s discretion but this is contradicted by the fact that it was a general order to all the attacking ships some of whom did break off and that later that day Nelson openly stated that he had fought contrary to orders Sir Hyde Parker was recalled in disgrace and Nelson appointed Commander in Chief of the fleet following the battle 4 See also editBlue wall of silence Cognitive dissonance Three wise monkeys Willful blindnessReferences edit to turn a also the blind eye under eye adj n 1 and adv Oxford English Dictionary Online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 OED 7079005033 Subscription or participating institution membership required See turn a blind eye at the English Wiktionary Hibbert Christopher 1994 Nelson A Personal History Basic Books p 261 ISBN 0 201 40800 7 Pocock Tom 1987 Horatio Nelson London The Bodley Head p 237 ISBN 0 370 31124 8 a b Pope Dudley 1972 The Great Gamble Nelson at Copenhagen New York Simon and Schuster p 576 ISBN 0 671 21404 7 External links edit nbsp Look up turn a blind eye in Wiktionary the free dictionary Re turn a blind eye The Phrase Finder 2001 03 30 Retrieved 2008 05 02 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Turning a blind eye amp oldid 1215289763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
