blinders

Noun

blinder (plural blinders)

1. A bag or cloth put over the head of a difficult horse while it is being handled or mounted.

   Synonyms:

   blinker, winker

2. (often, plural, plural-only) A screen attached to a horse's bridle preventing it from being able to see things to its side.
   • From both sides of his head a blackness swiftly grew like blinders on a horse and darkly narrowed his field of vision.1969, Kenzaburō Ōe, chapter 5, in John Nathan, transl., A Personal Matter, New York: Grove Press, page 84

   Synonyms:

   blinker, winker

3. Something that impairs visual or mental perception in a way figuratively compared to horses' blinders.
   • Orientalism itself, furthermore, was an exclusively male province; like so many professional guilds during the modern period, it viewed itself and its subject matter with sexist blinders.1978, Edward Said, Orientalism, New York: Vinatage, published 2003, Chapter 3, Part I, p. 207
4. (UK, slang) An exceptional performance.
   • He played a blinder this afternoon on the cricket ground.

   Synonyms:

   dazzler, cracker, belter

5. (slang) A bout of heavy drinking.
   • If a man goes out on a blinder, he might be charged with being drunk and incapable and therefore have a criminal record, although he is an honourable man.1985 May 2, John Maxton, Hansard

   Synonyms:

   bender

6. A bright light used to blind the audience temporarily during a scene change.
   • When the 'blinders' are switched off, and the audience's eyes given time to re-adjust, the new scene is in place […]1992, The Lighting Journal, page 9

See all 8 meanings of blinder