ostrich policy

English

Etymology

From ostrich +‎ policy. Referring to the common misconception that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when they notice danger. Perhaps a calque, compare ostrich politics.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

ostrich policy (plural ostrich policies)

1. (idiomatic) The tendency to ignore obvious problems and pretend they do not exist; ostrichism.

Related terms

• ostrich politics

 

Translations

the tendency to ignore obvious problems and pretend they do not exist

• French: politique de l’autruche (fr)
• German: Vogel-Strauß-Politik (de) f
• Hungarian: struccpolitika (hu)
• Polish: strusia polityka (pl) f
• Portuguese: please add this translation if you can
• Russian: страуси́ная поли́тика (ru) f (strausínaja polítika)
• Swedish: strutspolitik c

See also

• bury one's head in the sand
• head in the sand