This week Shauna and Dan turn a blind eye to the problems of the world. Bonus: Gaslighting Leaders (1810s), Unpopular Tariffs (1890s), and USA's Concentration Camps (1940s). Wowsers is it a fun one this week!
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Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Episode 319: Turn a Blind Eye
Record Date: May 3, 2026
Air Date: May 13, 2026
Intro
Shauna:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase.
I’m Shauna Harrison
Dan:
And I’m Dan Pugh
Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.
Opening Hook
I remember when my kids were young, I came home from work to find my toddler in the kitchen sitting in a large puddle of Apple Juice. He was moving it back and forth with an overly saturated paper towel, basically just moving the juice around the floor - and all over himself. He just smiled at me and kept “cleaning” while I, exhausted from the shift, decided to turn a blind eye and quietly went to the bedroom to change.
Meaning
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to turn a blind eye means:
Quote
to refuse to take any notice of a situation, state of affairs, etc.; (more recently also) to pretend not to notice.
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/blind_adj?tab=meaning_and_use#1420394320
I find the addendum here by the OED, to pretend not to notice, a bit dubious. But we could just have a difference of opinion in what “more recently” means. But we’ll come back to that.
To start with, I’ll note the use of “blind eye” as a stand-in for other things that are not seen has been around for a long time. I found numerous religious texts referencing “blind eye” in the 15 and 1600s; not as our phrase, but as a metaphor for not being able to see something or being ignorant of something.
Our version of the phrase appears to have originally been used as a longer one, to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye, as in refusing to hear or see something you don’t want to deal with.
I’ll just get this out of the way real quick. You may have heard this phrase originated with Horatio Nelson and the Battle of Copenhagen. Versions vary, but the idea is Nelson was given a signal to retreat and he claimed he had the spyglass to his blind eye and thus didn’t see the signal - giving rise to the phrase to turn a blind eye. But even if that happened, the Battle of Copenhagen was in 1801. And we’re going to start with our phrase…
1698
… in the 1698 work Practical Discourses Upon Several Divine Subjects Volume IV
by John Norris. A digital copy of the work is available from archive.org. In the section I will read from, Norris is making the case that the greatest advantage of walking by faith is that it helps overcome the world. I assume he made
the *gestures broadly* arm movements while he wrote that. Here is the line in support of his thesis:
Quote
To be Crucify’d to the World, and to have the World Crucify'd to us, to be dead to its Pleasures, and insensible of its Charms, to turn the deaf Ear, and the blind Eye to all those Pomps and Vanities of the World which, we renounc’d at our Baptism, and to have it no longer in our Hearts, but under our Feet.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1641-1700_practical-discourses-upo_norris-john_1698/page/222/mode/2up?q=blind+eye
1721
In many other sermons into the 1700s, a play on this refrain was common. Here’s an example of this from John Flavell in the 1721 work, Navigation Spiritualliz’d: Or, A New Compass for Seamen, 6th edition.
Quote
The Lord will be with you which way soever you turn your selves; and being in the bosom of the Covenant, you are safe in the midst of all dangers. O! Thou that art the Father of Spirits, that formedst, and canst easily reform the Heart, open thou the blind Eye, unstop the deaf Ear, let the Word take hold upon the Heart.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Navigation_spiritualliz_d_or_A_new_compa/lmaAUk_uaE0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=turn+a+deaf+ear+and+a+blind+eye&pg=PA118&printsec=frontcover
1817
I do want to come back to the concept that pretending not to notice is a recent definition. I don’t think it is. It seems like it has always been implied in the phrase. But this definition in the Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, Centenary Edition of 1817 really seals it. The entry for “to turn a blind eye” is as follows:
Quote
To pretend tactfully not to see; to ignore, in order to avoid embarrassment to all concerned.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/brewersdictionar0000ivor_z6p4/page/122/mode/2up?q=%22turn+a+blind+eye%22
1819
Lest you think the “turn a deaf ear” had been dropped at this point, we’ll look at one of the last sermons delivered by Timothy Dwight, who died in 1817. This comes from a posthumously published - meaning after his death - work called Theology Explained and Defended in a Series of Sermons, Volume V, published in 1819, two years after his death. In it, he is chiding the congregants for failing to accept Yahweh, the Judeo-Christian god.
Quote
He has offered to you himself, and all his blessings: and of you he has required nothing, but cordially to receive him. Instead of listening, there is but too melancholy reason to believe, you have turned a deaf ear, and a blind eye, to all that he has said, and done. He has called; but you have refused.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/theologyexplaine05dwig_0/page/578/mode/2up?q=%22deaf+ear+and+a+blind+eye%22
That feels gaslighty. “He has required nothing”. Um… there’s like 10 commandments set in stone that he requires. That doesn’t sound like “nothing”. Anyway, the point is “deaf ear” and “blind eye” were still being used together by some in the early 1800s, though by the mid-1800s I did see some examples of “blind eye” appearing in newspapers.
1892
We’ll continue, though, with another example of the deaf ear, blind eye. This is from the September 10, 1892 edition of The Freeman out of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
This is written from a pro-tariff point of view, saying the Democratic party claims that the Protective Tariff’s by the Republicans were effectively a tax on citizens is false. The Democrats claimed the tariff’s effectively made the rich richer, the poor poorer, and reduced the wages of the working man. And Republicans claimed the Democrats were wrong. We do have the gift of hindsight to show us the Protective Tariffs were a major debacle and in fact led to a Democratic landslide win in the next election. Here is the quote from 1892.
Quote
The Republican party, as a matter of course, being actuated by the facts in the case, have always denied these charges, but all in vain, the Democratic party through its Representatives in Congress, in the press, and from the “stump” have vigorously denied Republican claims and turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to the record of statistics.
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82016211/1892-09-10/ed-1/?sp=4&q=deaf+ear%2C+blind+eye&r=0.083,0.594,0.443,0.169,0
In our behind the scenes video, we’ll talk more about the Tariff Act of 1890 and how it inspired the tariffs instituted by the Trump Presidency in 2025. So if that interests you, join us in our behind the scenes video, available every Friday on our Patreon. That’s patreon.com/bunnytrailspod
1945
The phrase even existed in this form into World War II. Here’s an example from the February 1, 1945 edition of the California Eagle out of Los Angeles, USA. These are the final sentences of a piece by Hamilton T. Bosewell, a Methodist minister who was warning of the moves being made against Japanese Americans and the use of concentration camps in the United States during World War II.
Quote
The tragedy is that we who have come to the West Coast to escape the night riders of Texas and the Governor Johnsons of South Carolina, are turning a deaf ear and a blind eye in the face of this western form of racism. What must be realized is that being acquainted with the enemy, we must defeat them before waiting to be marked the scapegoat ourselves. Careless law enforcement and fascist politicians are threats to the security of the country, and who among us knows this better than we?
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82016196/1945-02-01/ed-1/?sp=12&q=deaf+ear%2C+blind+eye
Sometimes it is disheartening to read today’s news headlines in the newspapers of old. Up next we have several modern uses to cover and we’ll get to those, right after we say thank you to our sponsors.
A Quick Thank You
Shauna:
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Modern Uses
1983
Turn a Blind Eye is a song by The Call off their 1983 album Modern Romans. Here are the last two sections:
Quote
I don't want to get involved
It's not my problem
I'll just ignore it
I don't want to feel this
To the starving children, turn a blind eye
To your own redemption, turn
To the horror of extinction
To a world in chains, turn...
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4Yz2fMjbvM
1989
Blind Eye is a song by Australian band Hunters & Collectors off their 1989 album Ghost Nation. Here are some of the lyrics:
Quote
I can tell you know where you are
Smile sweetly and you'll be forgiven
You're almost free, almost free to come and go
Bed setting room for ambitious prisoner
Walk away, don't take no for an answer
Turn a blind eye to it all
Let sleeping dogs lie
Down in Queensway
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS7-IMxbE2Y
2017
Turning a Blind Eye is an Oil on Hardboard painting by the South African artist, Helge Janssen. The artwork is for sale on Saatchi Art. Here’s a description from the artist:
Quote
Riding my scooter I almost ran over a man with only one eye on a corner....something struck me about him....but I felt compelled to make this painting.
The painting speaks for itself...I have created strong contrasts with the orange background and pale blue highlights. The orange background looks 'fiery' but the colour is lot more 'toned down'.
The painting is, in essence, a reminder of our 'comfort zones' and how that relates to our integrity.
We walk a very fine tightrope with regard to taking a stand in our 'humanity' and 'not noticing' when the narrative does not suit our ability to 'comprehend'.
End Quote
https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Turning-a-Blind-Eye/2918389/13564689/view
2021
Turn A Blind Eye by Jeffrey Archer is the third novel in the best selling William Warwick series. It was released in 2021. Here’s the synopsis from the author’s website:
Quote
Newly promoted to Detective Inspector, William Warwick is tasked with a dangerous new line of work, to go undercover and expose crime of another kind: corruption at the heart of the Metropolitan Police Force. Along with detectives Rebecca Pankhurst and Nicky Bailey, his team is focused on following Detective Jerry Summers, a young officer whose lifestyle exceeds his income. But the investigation risks being compromised when Nicky falls for Summers.
Meanwhile, notorious drug baron Assem Rashidi goes on trial, defended by Mr Booth Watson QC, while William’s father Sir Julian and sister Grace lead the prosecution case. And William’s wife Beth, now a new mother to twins, makes a surprising new friend in Christina Faulkner—the ex-wife of William’s former rival, criminal financier Miles – who has not only turned over a new leaf, but has also a new-found source of income when Faulkner dies suddenly of a heart attack and she stands to be sole inheritor of his estate.
As the undercover officers start to draw the threads together, William realizes that the corruption may go deeper still, and more of his colleagues than he first thought might be willing to turn a blind eye.
End Quote
https://jeffreyarcher.com/book/turn-a-blind-eye/
2021
2021 also saw the release of Turning a Blind Eye, a French language documentary of a murder/suicide in Switzerland. The film focuses on what happened to take this seemingly normal family into this horrific event and asks if more could have, or should have, been done to prevent it. I’m not going to read the synopsis because it contains some fairly triggering things, but I think my description should let you know if it’s something you want to look more into. It’s available on Apple TV and Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Blind-Eye-Jacqueline-Dubuis/dp/B09KCJH111
https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/turning-a-blind-eye/umc.cmc.1qgs3t0o65y35ztc1cak7csss
2025
Turn a Blind Eye by Billy Parks Burton is a book released in 2025. It was inspired by the Little Chicago era in Henderson, Kentucky. Here’s the synopsis:
Quote
Alone and lonely, Hoyt Cole is an unlikely hero. He's lost the love of his life, he drinks too much, and he's suffering from combat fatigue. G. I. Bill-college degree in hand, Cole returns to Henderson to work as a reporter on the local paper, finding there an unrecognizable haven of vice. The authorities are corrupt, and the residents seem indifferent. But when Cole covers the story of a body found floating face up in the river, he knows his duty. If there's one thing he learned from serving in the Marine Corps, it's the importance of honor. Determined to reclaim his hometown, Cole risks his relationships, his job, and his life, to clean up a community in the grip of lawlessness, racketeering, and murder.
End Quote
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/turn-a-blind-eye-billy-parks-burton/1147077050
Current
I did a quick search on PubMed for scholarly articles with the title and several popped up, like:
Turning a blind eye: authors have blinkered view of blinding by SJ Senn
Turning a blind eye: testing the success of blinding and the CONSORT statement by DG Altman et al
Turning a blind eye to cortical receptive fields by B Chapman and LS Stone
The bumps and bruises from turning a blind eye: Learning from our failures and surprises by L Varpio and A Nagler
"Turning a Blind Eye to Ratoon Stunting Disease of Sugarcane in Australia" May Be Putting It Too Strongly Without A Lot More Evidence by JW Hoy
and
Turning a blind (white) eye in legislating mental health parity: the unmet, overlooked needs of the working poor in racial and ethnic minority communities by MJ Boucher
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=turning+a+blind+eye
So it’s clear this phrase is continuing in the academic world as much as it is in the pop culture world.
Wrap Up
Despite the innocent example I used at the top of the show, the truth of this phrase is heavy. In an effort to cope with the difficulties of our own existence, we turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the difficulties of others, too. I’m not saying that is good or bad. That’s a value judgement that each person has to make for themselves. But we do need to acknowledge that many of us - on a sometimes daily basis - ignore the plights of others while we continue to push through our own plights. I read a section from the 1983 song by The Call earlier, but I want to close out with the opening lines, which I think really capture the heaviness:
Quote
To the desperate young, turn a blind eye
To the old and lonely, turn a blind eye
To our inhumanity
To our death dealing vanity
To the methods of persuasion, turn a blind eye
To the masters of evasion, turn
To the science of control, turn a blind eye
To a world in chains, turn...
End Quote
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/call/turnablindeye.html
Next time we hear this phrase, reconsider if there is something we can do to help. Most of the time, the honest answer will be no. But sometimes, a few kind words or an ear to listen can make all the difference in the world.
Dan:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included,
reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod or comment on our website bunnytrailspod.com
Shauna:
It’s poll time!
Recently we asked our Patrons, what’s your ideal day off?
Lazy day at home was the far and away winner, with outdoor adventures and hanging out with friends receiving several votes each.
Cheryl said
Quote
Hanging with the birds, doing some crafts or reading.
End Quote
Mary added
Quote
If I am really taking a break, being outdoors reenergizes me the most.
End Quote
Heather said
Quote
Just me and my recliner, a book or three, a record spinning, maybe a crochet project to keep my hands busy.
End Quote
Dan:
It’s tough to choose, because I love spending time outside, I love having a planned lazy day, and I love getting things marked off my to-do list that I don't normally have time to do.
I do enjoy hanging out with my friends, but I have learned that I have to say "yes" to that even when I'm not feeling it because I often am glad that I DID hang out with my friends, but I'm not often in the mood to actually SAY yes when asked. So I usually just try to say yes.
But only selecting one, I go for a lazy day, because my usual weeks are busy and a real day off for me is most often spent just relaxing and intentionally not having anything to do.
Shauna:
Most days off, I use resting and recovering. But the ideal free day for me involves art … museum, park, farmer’s market… or being more involved in the art, whether that’s painting, building something, writing, or even solving puzzles. I find it particularly enjoyable when it’s with a chill group of people.
If you want to take part in our silly polls, head over to the Patreon. We’d love to hear your take on our weekly poll questions! And it’s free at patreon.com/bunnytrailspod
Outro
Shauna:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember,
Together:
Words belong to their users.
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