Turning a blind eye

{{short description|Ignoring of undesirable information}}

{{redirect|Blind eye|the health condition|Visual impairment}}

{{for|the song "Turn a Blind Eye" by Half Man Half Biscuit|Four Lads Who Shook the Wirral}}

Turning a blind eye is an idiom describing the ignoring of undesirable information. The Oxford English Dictionary records usage of the phrase in 1698.{{Cite OED|term=to turn a (also †the) blind eye, under eye, adj., n.{{sup|1}}, and adv.|id=7079005033}} See turn a blind eye at the English Wiktionary.

The phrase to turn a blind eye is often associated with Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. An orchestrated version of what actually happened gives the story that during the battle, 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 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.{{Cite book|last=Hibbert|first=Christopher|authorlink=Christopher Hibbert|title=Nelson A Personal History.|publisher=Basic Books|year=1994|page=261|isbn=0-201-40800-7}}{{Cite book|last=Pocock|first=Tom|title=Horatio Nelson|publisher=The Bodley Head|location=London|year=1987|page=237|isbn=0-370-31124-8}} The frigates supporting the line of battle ships did break off, in one case suffering severe losses in the retreat.{{Cite book|last=Pope|first=Dudley|title=The Great Gamble: Nelson at Copenhagen|publisher=Simon and Schuster|location=New York|year=1972|page=[https://archive.org/details/greatgamble00pope/page/576 576]|isbn=0-671-21404-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/greatgamble00pope/page/576}}

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 was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the fleet following the battle.