turned a blind eye
Pretended not noticing
To turn a blind eye is to deliberately ignore something you know is happening, especially wrongdoing: Management turned a blind eye to the harassment for years.
The phrase suggests willful ignorance rather than failure to notice—you see it but choose to act as if you don't.
- ignoredPurposely not noticed
- disregardedNot given consideration
- unheededIgnored after being given
- connivanceWillful blindness to wrongdoing
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
complicity · wink and a nod · condone · willful ignorance · moral hazard · tacit approval · neglected · passed over · compartmentalization · non-intervention · selective attention · groupthink · hush · cognitive dissonance · social conformity · suppression · omission · none of my business
turned a blind eyescrutinized
Examined in close detail
took notice · monitored · watched like a hawk · examined · inspected
turned a blind eyeconfronted
Challenged or opposed directly
called out · intervened · took action · blew the whistle · held accountable
turn, turned, turning, turns, turner, turnout, upturn, downturn, overturn