‘until Nelson gets his eye back’: meaning and origin

20th Jun 2021.Reading time 12 minutes.

UK and Ireland—with reference to the fact that Horatio Nelson was blinded in one eye—(1922) ‘until/when Nelson gets his eye back’ is used of a very long time in the future—(1933) the metaphor of Nelson getting his eye back is used of a very small chance of success

the authentic origin of ‘to turn a blind eye’

15th Aug 2017.Reading time 8 minutes.

early 19th century—shortening of ‘to turn the deaf ear and the blind eye’ and variants

word histories

Tag: Horatio Nelson

‘until Nelson gets his eye back’: meaning and origin

the authentic origin of ‘to turn a blind eye’