10 Everyday Phrases That Came From Weird Historical Events

9. "Turn a Blind Eye": A Naval Defiance

To "turn a blind eye" means to ignore something deliberately. The phrase is famously attributed to British Admiral Horatio Nelson, who, during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, allegedly used his blind eye to look through his telescope, ignoring a signal to retreat. Nelson's defiance led to a significant victory, and the phrase "turn a blind eye" symbolised willful ignorance or intentional disregard. This naval anecdote illustrates how individual actions can leave a lasting imprint on language, transforming personal defiance into a universal metaphor. The phrase's enduring popularity underscores the human tendency to selectively acknowledge inconvenient truths, a practice as relevant today as it was in Nelson's time.