As blind as a bat

Origin

Bats are creatures of the night, renowned for their aerial acrobatics in complete darkness. For centuries, this nocturnal existence led people to a common, yet mistaken, belief: that bats were utterly blind, navigating solely by instinct or touch. This vivid simile, “as blind as a bat,” emerged in the English language as early as the 16th century, perfectly capturing the image of profound sightlessness. While modern science has revealed that bats possess good vision and primarily use echolocation to navigate their world, the striking, memorable imagery of a creature seemingly struggling to see in the dark ensures the phrase endures as a powerful descriptor for anyone with severely impaired vision.