can't see farther than (one's) nose

1. Lacks the ability to foresee problems, issues, or obligations beyond the present or immediate future. Our boss is ambitious, but she can't see farther than her nose when it comes to scheduling projects with realistic deadlines. Planning for the future just doesn't interest Howard—that guy can't see farther than his nose. Lisa can't see farther than her nose, so I doubt that she knows where this project will be in six months.

2. Is so preoccupied with oneself or one's own problems as to be unaware of or indifferent to larger issues or other people. My ex-husband was always so wrapped up in work that he couldn't see farther than his nose, hardly ever making any time for me or the kids. Of course she's oblivious to the growing homeless population in our city—she can't see farther than her nose. Jim is so concerned about getting ahead in business that he can't see farther than his nose anymore.

can't see farther than the end of (one's) nose

1. To lack the ability to foresee problems, issues, or obligations beyond the present or immediate future. Our boss is ambitious, but she can't see farther than her nose when it comes to scheduling projects with realistic deadlines. Planning for the future just doesn't interest Howard—that guy can't see farther than the end of his nose. Lisa can't see farther than the end of her nose, so I doubt that she knows where this project will be in six months.

2. To be so preoccupied with oneself or one's own problems as to be unaware of or indifferent to larger issues or other people. My ex-husband was always so wrapped up in work that he couldn't see farther than the end of his nose, hardly ever making any time for me or the kids. Of course she's oblivious to the growing homeless population in our city—she can't see farther than the end of her nose. Jim is so concerned about getting ahead in business that he can't see farther than the end of his nose anymore.

far/farther/further afield

1. Larger in scope. This project has gone far afield after our initial experiment didn't yield the data we were looking for. I had you all pick topics for a reason—so you would stick to them. I do not want a five-page paper going further afield. I don't think anyone will sign off on this investigation going farther afield into the candidate's personal finances.

2. Away from some place or thing. If you want to travel further afield, though, it'll be a very long walk. Oh wow, you guys went far afield—I thought you were just going to the mall in town. Well, I need to stop for gas if we're going to go farther afield.

I wouldn't trust (someone) farther than I could throw (them)

I do not trust someone at all. You want me to tell our plans to Jill? I wouldn't trust Jill farther than I could throw her. The government is asking us to believe that they'll apply the new tax fairly, but I wouldn't trust them farther than I could throw them. I wouldn't trust Ed farther than I could throw him, so you better not tell him our secret!

not trust (someone) farther than (one) can throw (them)

To be very suspicious of someone; to not trust or believe someone. You want me to tell our plans to Jill? I don't trust Jill farther than I can throw her. The government is asking us to believe that they'll apply the new tax fairly, but I wouldn't trust them farther than I can throw them.

See also: can, farther, not, throw, trust

nothing could be further from (something)

What we are discussing is the complete opposite of something. They claim that the tax overhaul was designed with lower- and middle-class earners in mind, but nothing could be further from the truth! Nothing could be further from reality—I have never accepted bribes in my entire career.

nothing could be further from my mind

That is the complete opposite of what I'm thinking. A: "You're regretting settling down and having kids, aren't you?" B: "No, nothing could be further from my mind!"

take (something) further

To advance an action, argument, or complaint to a higher level or more serious degree. To avoid having the ex-employee take the lawsuit any further, the company offered a settlement many believe to be worth several million dollars. I intend to take this matter further with the board of directors if you are unwilling to tender your resignation here and now.

the nearer the church, the farther from God

proverb The higher up someone is in the church hierarchy, the more likely they are to be corrupt, immoral, or sinful. A: "It turns out the archbishop himself was the one who ran the entire cover-up operation." B: "Doesn't surprise me. The nearer the church, the farther from God." The highest order of the church is shrouded in secrecy, but the few reports that make their way to the public often detail a decadent, even vulgar lifestyle. I suppose, as they say, the nearer the church, the farther from God.

nearer the church, the farther from God

Prov. Church officials, or people who live near the church, are not truly pious. Jill: I think our pastor is an evil man. Jane: I didn't think evil men could be pastors. Jill: Of course they can! The nearer the church, the farther from God.

can't see beyond the end of one's nose

Also, can't see farther than the end of one's nose. Lack foresight, envisioning only immediate events or problems, as in Thomas hasn't hired an orchestra for the Christmas concert; he just can't see beyond the end of his nose . This expression originated as a French proverb that was frequently cited in English from about 1700 on. Alexander Pope used a similar expression in his Essay on Man (1734): "Onward still he goes, Yet ne'er looks forward further than his nose."

far/farther/further aˈfield

far away from home; to or in places that are not near: You can hire a car if you want to explore further afield. ♢ Journalists came from as far afield as China and Brazil.

can't see beyond the end of one's nose

Shortsighted, unable to grasp anything but the immediate problem or events. The term was a sixteenth-century French proverb cited by several English writers. It later appeared in one of La Fontaine’s fables, The Fox and the Goat, and in a couplet in Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man (1734): “Onward still he goes, Yet ne’er looks forward further than his nose.”