blinkers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1semi-formal, idiomatic (in extended sense)
Quick answer
What does “blinkers” mean?
Pieces of leather attached to a horse's bridle to prevent it from seeing sideways and to keep it focused forward.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Pieces of leather attached to a horse's bridle to prevent it from seeing sideways and to keep it focused forward.
A state or attitude of mind that prevents someone from considering alternative ideas or perspectives; narrow-mindedness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'blinkers' is the standard term for the horse equipment and is also common informal slang for a vehicle's turn signals. In the US, the horse equipment is called 'blinders', while 'blinkers' is rarely used for turn signals (US: 'turn signals' or 'indicators'). The metaphorical meaning is understood in both, but 'blinders' is preferred in American English.
Connotations
In both, the metaphorical use carries a negative connotation of willful ignorance or narrow focus. The UK car slang is neutral/informal.
Frequency
The metaphorical phrase 'to have/wear blinkers (on)' is more frequent in UK English. The US equivalent 'to have/wear blinders on' is equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “blinkers” in a Sentence
[subject] + have/put on/wear + blinkers + on[subject] + see/act + with + the + blinkers + onIt's time + to + take off + your + blinkersVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blinkers” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The champion jockey carefully blinkered the nervous colt before the race.
American English
- (Less common; 'blinder' is the verb in US equestrian contexts.)
adverb
British English
- He proceeded blinkeredly, ignoring all the warning signs.
American English
- (Rare in both dialects.)
adjective
British English
- His blinkered approach to management is stifling innovation.
- She gave a blinkered defence of the outdated policy.
American English
- His blinkered view of the world never changes. (Adjectival use is shared.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to critique a company or manager for ignoring market trends or competitor moves due to a narrow internal focus.
Academic
Used in social sciences to describe methodological or ideological limitations in a scholar's approach.
Everyday
Used to describe someone who stubbornly refuses to see another point of view, especially in arguments.
Technical
Primarily in equestrianism (UK) and automotive slang (UK informal).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blinkers”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blinkers”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blinkers”
- Using it as a singular noun ('a blinker') for the metaphorical sense (use 'blinkers' or the state).
- Confusing 'blinkers' (UK) with 'blinders' (US) in international communication.
- Using it to simply mean 'glasses' or 'spectacles' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically treated as a plural noun ('the blinkers are on'). However, when referring to the concept metaphorically, it is uncountable ('a state of blinkers'). You would not say 'a blinkers'.
They refer to the same piece of horse equipment. 'Blinkers' is standard in British English, while 'Blinders' is standard in American English. The metaphorical meaning is shared, with each dialect preferring its own term.
Rarely. Even when it implies useful focus (e.g., 'the blinkers helped the horse win'), the metaphorical use almost always carries a negative connotation of limiting one's understanding. 'Focus' or 'concentration' are the positive equivalents.
Learners often try to use it in the singular ('a blinker') for the idiomatic sense, or they incorrectly assume it refers to any kind of glasses or eye protection. Its core meaning is specific to horses and metaphorical narrow-mindedness.
Pieces of leather attached to a horse's bridle to prevent it from seeing sideways and to keep it focused forward.
Blinkers is usually semi-formal, idiomatic (in extended sense) in register.
Blinkers: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblɪŋkəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblɪŋkɚz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have blinkers on”
- “to be wearing blinkers”
- “to take the blinkers off”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a horse with BLINKERS: it can only see what's directly in front of its eyes (BLINKS). A person with blinkers on only sees their own narrow view, 'blinking' out everything else.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIMITED VISION IS NARROW-MINDEDNESS (The physical restriction of sight maps onto the cognitive restriction of perspective).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'blinkers' LEAST likely to be used correctly?