stick one's head in the sand
Avoid unpleasant reality
To stick one's head in the sand is to ignore obvious problems or dangers, like an ostrich supposedly hiding from threats by burying its head.
The phrase implies willful denial: The company stuck its head in the sand while competitors innovated.
Someone who does this refuses to acknowledge uncomfortable realities, hoping they'll disappear.
- ostrichLargest living bird
- head in sandDeliberate obliviousness to reality
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- ignoranceAbsence of knowledge
blissful ignorance · evasion · burying · elephant in the room · fear · denial · turn a blind eye · look the other way · hiding · avoidance · escapism · la la land · neglect · deflection · rationalization · blindness · dodging · stagnation
stick one's head in the sandface facts
Accept uncomfortable truths
face the music · come to terms with · wake up and smell the coffee · come to grips with · face up to
stick one's head in the sandface up to
Accept and address directly
confront · bite the bullet · grasp the nettle · take the bull by the horns · square up to
stick one's head in the sandtackle
Gear or takedown
deal with · take action · get to grips with · roll up one's sleeves · take matters into one's own hands
sticks, sticking, sticky, stickiness, headed, heading, header, headless