Noun (idiomatic expression)
/blɪnd mænz ˈhɒlədeɪ/
"Blind man's holiday" is an idiomatic expression that refers to a situation wherein there is little or no light, often used to describe a state of darkness or obscurity. The phrase conveys the idea that a blind person would not notice the lack of light, hence it is a "holiday" for them. It is mostly used in a humorous or sarcastic tone and is relatively less common in modern usage compared to other idioms.
While it can be used in both oral and written forms, it is more frequently encountered in spoken language and informal writing, such as conversational forums or light-hearted contexts.
Blind man's holiday seems to have arrived when the lights went out during the storm.
(Похоже, что пришел обманчивый день слепого, когда свет погас во время шторма.)
In the blind man's holiday of the cinema, everyone forgot their worries for a while.
(На празднике слепого в кино все на некоторое время забыли свои заботы.)
When the clouds covered the sun, it turned into a blind man's holiday outside.
(Когда облака затянули солнце, на улице наступил праздник слепого.)
The phrase is not commonly found as part of other idiomatic expressions, but it may be useful to explore variations involving blindness or darkness:
"In the dark"
Meaning: Lacking information or awareness.
Translation: Он был в темноте о том, что произошло.
(He was in the dark about what happened.)
"Blind spot"
Meaning: An area where a person's view is obstructed or a weakness in a person's understanding.
Translation: У нее есть слепая зона в понимании ситуации.
(She has a blind spot in understanding the situation.)
"As blind as a bat"
Meaning: Unable to see well; very poor eyesight.
Translation: Этот парень слеп, как летучая мышь, без своих очков.
(That guy is as blind as a bat without his glasses.)
"Blind leading the blind"
Meaning: A situation where someone who knows little or nothing is guiding others who are equally uninformed.
Translation: Это было, как слепой ведет слепого в проекте.
(It was like the blind leading the blind in that project.)
The phrase "blind man's holiday" has its origins in English folk sayings, with "holiday" historically referring to a day of rest or a special occasion. The juxtaposition of "blind" with "holiday" evokes the idea of someone who cannot appreciate light or sight celebrating in darkness. It has been part of the English language for centuries but has diminished in frequency of use in contemporary speech.