the blind leading the blind
Meaning
An incompetent or uninformed person guiding others who are equally unable—so everyone is likely to go wrong.
Origin
From a biblical image (Matthew 15:14; also Luke 6:39): if a blind person leads another blind person, both will fall into a pit. It became a proverb for misguided leadership by the unqualified.
Notes
Often sarcastic/critical: it implies both the “leader” and followers are unqualified. Can sound insulting, so use carefully in polite or face-to-face contexts.
Examples
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Trying to troubleshoot the server without an IT person felt like the blind leading the blind.
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When none of us had cooked before, our dinner plan turned into the blind leading the blind.
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He asked me for investment advice, but I’m barely breaking even—it was the blind leading the blind.
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The interns trained each other on the new software, and it was the blind leading the blind.
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Relying on rumors for legal guidance is just the blind leading the blind.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually fixed as a noun phrase with “the”: “It’s the blind leading the blind.” Can be used after “like”/“as if” or as a clause fragment. Rarely inflected; don’t change “the blind” to singular.
Synonyms
- incompetence in charge
- misguided leadership
- the clueless guiding the clueless
Antonyms
- the right person for the job
- expert guidance
- qualified leadership