blind

be as blind as a bat (humorous)

to be completely blind. I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses.

See also: bat

a blind alley

a method of thinking or acting which is not effective because it does not produce any results. The latest evolutionary theory may turn out to be a blind alley.

See also: alley

a blind date

an arranged meeting for two people who have never met each other before, in order to try to start a romantic relationship. I agreed to go on a blind date with one of Savita's ex-boyfriends.

See also: date

the blind leading the blind

a situation where someone is trying to show someone else how to do something which they do not know how to do themselves. I tried to explain how the software works, but it was a case of the blind leading the blind, really.

See also: leading

a blind spot

something that you do not understand at all, often because you are not willing to try. He had a complete blind spot where public relations were concerned, so his political career was doomed from the start. Languages are my blind spot - I was always terrible at French.

See also: spot

blind someone with science (British & Australian)

if you blind someone with science, you confuse them by using technical language that they are not likely to understand. I think he decided to blind us with science because he didn't want us asking any difficult questions.

See also: science

effing and blinding (British & Australian, informal)

swearing angrily. I could hear Bill effing and blinding as he tried to repair the washing machine.

fly blind

to try to do something new without any help or instructions. We've never dealt with Eastern Europe before, so we're flying blind. (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: fly

swear up and down (American & Australian, British & Australian, Australian)

to say that something is completely true, especially when someone does not believe you. He swore up and down that he'd never seen the letter. If I ask her, I know she'll swear blind she locked the door. He swore black and blue he had nothing to do with the missing money.

See also: down, swear

not take a blind bit of notice (British & Australian, informal)

to not give someone or something any attention at all. Protesters were shouting and waving banners outside the embassy, but no-one took a blind bit of notice. They didn't take a blind bit of notice of our objections. (often + of)

See also: bit, notice, take

turn a blind eye

to choose to ignore behaviour that you know is wrong. I knew Kenny was taking the money but I turned a blind eye because he was my sister's child. Management often turn a blind eye to bullying in the workplace. (often + to)

See also: eye, turn

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swear up and down

to say as strongly as possible. He swore up and down that he didn't know the guy at all.

Etymology: based on the meaning of swear on the Bible or sometimes swear on a stack of Bibles (= to promise that a statement is true)

See also: down, swear

turn a blind eye (to something)

to ignore something. Sometimes a store might sell stolen goods because the owner has turned a blind eye to where they come from.

See also: eye, turn