When someone 'turns a blind eye', they are purposely ignoring something that they know is wrong or problematic. This phrase has been around for centuries and is often used in situations where people are hesitant to take action. However, there are plenty of synonyms for this phrase that can be used to convey a similar message. For example, 'look the other way', 'ignore', 'feign ignorance' and 'overlook' are all popular synonyms for 'turn a blind eye'. Whether someone is ignoring an uncomfortable truth or simply avoiding a difficult situation, there are many ways to describe this behaviour without falling back on the same old cliche.