where does the saying turn a blind eye come from
Turning a blind eye
The phrase to turn a blind eye is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson . Nelson was blinded in one eye early in his Royal Navy career . During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 the cautious 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 the more aggressive 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 . The frigates supporting the line - of - battle ships did break off , in one case suffering severe losses in the retreat . 
The phrase to turn a blind eye is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson . Nelson was blinded in one eye early in his Royal Navy career . During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 the cautious 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 the more aggressive 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 . The frigates supporting the line - of - battle ships did break off , in one case suffering severe losses in the retreat .
The phrase to turn a blind eye is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson, when he lifted his telescope to his blind eye saying that he could be blind sometimes to disregard an order.
The phrase to turn a blind eye is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson . When this order was brought to the more aggressive Nelson 's attention , he lifted his telescope up to his blind eye , saying , `` I have a right to be blind sometimes .
The phrase to turn a blind eye is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson, when he lifted his telescope to his blind eye saying that he could be blind sometimes to disregard an order that was sent to his forces via signal flags.
The phrase to turn a blind eye is attributed to an incident in the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson . During the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 the cautious 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 the more aggressive Nelson 's attention , he lifted his telescope up to his blind eye , saying , `` I have a right to be blind sometimes .