The blind leading the blind

The blind leading the blind is an idiom that is derived from a longer proverb. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal meaning, while a proverb is a short, common saying or phrase that contains particular advice or shares a universal truth. We will examine the meaning of the phrase the blind leading the blind, where the term came from and some examples of its use in sentences.

The blind leading the blind describes a situation in which an inexperienced, incompetent or uninformed person is advised and guided by an equally inexperienced, incompetent or uninformed person. The term the blind leading the blind is the first line of a proverb that has fallen out of use: when the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a ditch. The proverb was derived from a quote found in Matthew 15:14 of the New Testament of the Bible: “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Examples

Her Aunt Jean, who also knew nothing about babies, came to help her and she used to joke that it was the blind leading the blind. (The Spencer Daily Reporter)

“I think it’s funny because I’m watching [the trend] and it’s like the blind leading the blind,” she told HuffPost Live on Monday when asked how she felt about the Kardashians promoting the corset-like Waist Trainer. (The Huffington Post)

“It’s funny because so many people have come to me asking me for advice but it’s almost like the blind leading the blind because I’m no expert,” she told the Irish Daily Mirror. (The Irish Independent)