was wotd|2006|January|30
English
Etymology
Said to be from a blind hawker called Freddy or Freddie who lived in Sydney in the 1920s. (Reference: Sidney J. Baker, The Australian Language, second edition, 1966, page 269.)
Another candidate is police officer Sir Frederick William Pottinger who was in charge of the Lachlan district. The success of bushranger w:Ben Hall|Ben Hall in evading capture there earned Pottinger the name "Blind Freddy". (Gift of sight article, w:Sydney Morning Herald|Sydney Morning Herald, 24 November 2004.)
Proper noun
Blind Freddy
- AU colloquial Imaginary incapacitated person. Used as a standard or archetype of incapacity, in the sense that if Blind Freddy can see or know something then it must be obvious.
#: 1992: Of course it would be preferable. Blind Freddy could see that 100 per cent demobilisation would be preferable. — w:Gareth Evans|Gareth Evans, w:Australian Senate|Australian Senate 1
Translations
Finnish: Sokea-Reetta
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