head in the sand

See also: head-in-the-sand

English

Alternative forms

• head-in-the-sand (attributive)

Etymology

A reference to the imagined habit of the ostrich burying its head when threatened.

Noun

head in the sand (plural heads in the sand)

1. A state of disregarding or denying a problem or threat.

   People who deny the inevitable zombie apocalypse have their heads in the sand.

   • 1961 June, B. A. Haresnape, “Design on the railway: Part Four”, in Trains Illustrated, page 354:

     In my opinion, the railways still have their heads in the sand on the subject of railway liveries.

Related terms

• bury one's head in the sand

See also

• ostrich policy
• ostrich politics

 

Further reading

• Ostrich effect on Wikipedia.Wikipedia