How to “Turn a Blind Eye” and Why This Phrase is Essential for IELTS Preparation

The term “turn a blind eye” is a crucial idiom that often appears in IELTS listening, reading, and especially writing sections. Understanding and using idiomatic expressions can greatly enhance your score, as they demonstrate a strong grasp of English nuances. This article delves deeply into the usage of “turn a blind eye”, including its meanings, synonyms, and practical applications in the IELTS exam.

What Does “Turn a Blind Eye” Mean? (IPA: /ˈtɝːn ə ˈblaɪnd ˈaɪ/)

“Turn a blind eye” is an idiomatic expression meaning to intentionally ignore something that you know is wrong or problematic. This idiom is often used to describe situations where individuals, organizations, or even governments choose not to acknowledge misconduct or issues that require attention.

Synonyms and Related Expressions

1. Ignore (/ɪɡˈnɔːr/) – deliberately pay no attention to something.
2. Overlook (/ˌoʊ.vɚˈlʊk/) – fail to notice or consider.
3. Disregard (/ˌdɪs.rɪˈɡɑːrd/) – treat as unworthy of consideration.
4. Neglect (/nɪˈɡlekt/) – fail to care for properly.
5. Brush off (/brʌʃ ɒf/) – dismiss someone or something abruptly.
6. Condone (/kənˈdoʊn/) – accept and allow behavior that is considered wrong.
7. Close one’s eyes (to) (/kloʊz wʌnz aɪz/) – to intentionally ignore something.
8. Pretend not to notice (/prɪˈtend nɒt tə ˈnoʊ.tɪs/) – act as if unaware of something.
9. Pass over (/pɑːs ˈoʊ.vər/) – to ignore or skip over something.
10. Turn a deaf ear (/tɝːn ə dɛf ɪər/) – refuse to listen or respond to something.

Examples:

• The manager decided to turn a blind eye to the employees’ lateness.
• I can’t continue to ignore these problems any longer.
• By overlooking the accounting discrepancies, the officials effectively condoned the theft.

Relevance in IELTS

Writing Task 2

In essay writing, idiomatic expressions like “turn a blind eye” can be highly effective in illustrating points and making arguments more impactful. IELTS examiners appreciate the use of such phrases as they showcase a candidate’s language proficiency.

Example:

Topic: Some people believe companies should avoid running advertisements that promote unhealthy food. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

While some corporations prioritize profit and choose to turn a blind eye to the health impacts of their products, stricter regulations could mitigate this issue.

Speaking Part 3

Using idioms appropriately in spoken English during the Speaking test can enrich your responses and show an advanced level of fluency.

Example:

Question: How do you think governments should deal with environmental pollution?

Governments can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to industrial pollution. Stricter laws and severe penalties are essential.

Reading and Listening

Recognizing idiomatic expressions can help in understanding the main points or intentions of the authors and speakers.

Usage Examples and Analysis

1. Context: Office Environment

   • Sentence: Many managers turn a blind eye to minor mistakes, focusing instead on overall performance.
   • Analysis: Here, the idiom emphasizes the managerial choice to overlook small errors for the sake of broader objectives.

2. Context: Social Issues

   • Sentence: Despite knowing about the issue, the authorities turned a blind eye to the community’s complaints about unsafe drinking water.
   • Analysis: This usage highlights the willful ignorance of the authorities in addressing severe community concerns.

3. Context: Education

   • Sentence: Teachers should not turn a blind eye to bullying in schools.
   • Analysis: This statement underscores the responsibility of educators to acknowledge and address bullying.

turning_a_blind_eye

Combining with Other Keywords

When preparing for the IELTS, it’s beneficial to know how to combine “turn a blind eye” with other idiomatic expressions or relevant vocabulary.

Examples:

1. “Turn a blind eye” & “give the cold shoulder”

   • Some nations turn a blind eye to human rights violations, giving the cold shoulder to international criticism. Learn more about giving the cold shoulder

2. “Turn a blind eye” & “the elephant in the room”

   • By turning a blind eye to climate change, world leaders ignore the elephant in the room. Explore the elephant in the room

3. “Turn a blind eye” & “let off the hook”

   • When authorities turn a blind eye, it often lets the wrongdoers off the hook. Find out about letting someone off the hook

Related Idioms and Expressions

1. “Sweeping under the rug”
   • The company has a history of sweeping accusations under the rug, avoiding accountability.
2. “Brushing aside”
   • He brushed aside the rumors, pretending they didn’t matter.
3. “Passing over”
   • Rather than addressing the real issues, the committee chose to pass over the controversial topics.

Conclusion

Understanding the idiom “turn a blind eye” and its application is vital for IELTS preparation. This phrase, among other idiomatic expressions, not only enhances your language proficiency but also allows for more dynamic and compelling communication in both written and spoken English. Familiarize yourself with these idioms and practice them frequently to fully integrate them into your language arsenal come test day.

In upcoming practices, incorporate these idioms and expressions into your essays and speaking responses to see an immediate improvement in your proficiency and scores. Happy studying!