blind

Everyday

1. Blind means not able to see. tree →
2. To blind someone is to stop them seeing, for a short time or for ever: The bright light blinded me. tree →
3. A blind is a covering that you pull down over a window to keep out light. tree →
4. Blind to something means not noticing it: blind to his mistakes. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, blind people may use a white cane, a guide dog or Braille (raised dots read with fingers); be polite, ask before helping, and never pat a working guide dog. In science: some animals, like moles, see very little. In safety: never look at the sun or shine lasers in eyes, as this can blind you. Phrases: blind spot, colour-blind, blindfold, pull down the blind, turn a blind eye.

Examples

• The blind man walked with a guide dog. tree →
• Braille helps blind people read. tree →
• Close the blinds, the sun is in my eyes. tree →
• The bright light blinded me for a moment. tree →
• Moles are almost blind. tree →
• We played blind man's buff with a blindfold. tree →
• The teacher turned a blind eye to our talking. tree →
• Drivers have a blind spot behind the car. tree →

Note

Pronounced to rhyme with «kind». Polite phrases: «a blind person» or «a person who is blind». Myth: most blind people can see some light or shapes; being blind does not always mean seeing total darkness. Colour-blind people mix up some colours, usually red and green.

In Jewish tradition

Here blind means unable to see. The Torah also uses it for people who are easy to mislead. Isaiah uses it for people who do not understand God's ways, even God's servant Israel, and Malachi says that offering a blind animal is wrong.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the law about not putting a stumbling-block before the blind as also forbidding you to trick or mislead someone who is unaware. It sees care for the weak as a way of fearing God. Isaiah's "blind" is read as Israel being unaware, and Malachi's warning as giving God only one's best.

Examples

• Cursed be he that maketh the blind to go astray in the way. (Torah DEU.27.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but thou shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD. (Torah LEV.19.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the LORD said unto him: 'Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not I the LORD? (Torah EXO.4.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who is blind, but My servant? (Prophets ISA.42.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see. (Prophets ISA.42.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it no evil! (Prophets MAL.1.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced to rhyme with «kind». Polite phrases: «a blind person» or «a person who is blind». Myth: most blind people can see some light or shapes; being blind does not always mean seeing total darkness. Colour-blind people mix up some colours, usually red and green.