Quick answer: “Bury your head in the sand” means to deliberately ignore a problem or unpleasant reality rather than dealing with it.
Bury your head in the sand means to deliberately avoid or ignore a problem, danger, or uncomfortable truth rather than confronting it directly. Like the proverbial ostrich hiding from a threat, the person knows the issue exists but chooses to pretend it does not, hoping it will disappear without any effort on their part.
Meaning
When someone buries their head in the sand, they are engaging in wilful avoidance. This is distinct from simple ignorance — the key element is that the person is aware of the problem but actively chooses not to deal with it. The behaviour is driven by fear, discomfort, or the hope that inaction will somehow resolve matters.
The idiom is often used as a criticism or warning. You might use it to challenge someone who is refusing to acknowledge a financial crisis, a health concern, a relationship breakdown, or a looming deadline. It carries a clear implication: avoidance will make things worse, not better.
Origin and History
The expression comes from the popular but scientifically inaccurate belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when threatened. In reality, ostriches do not do this. The confusion likely arose from observing ostriches lower their long necks close to the ground — either to tend their eggs in shallow ground nests or to swallow sand and grit for digestion. Viewed from a distance, this can give the illusion of the head disappearing underground.
Despite being based on a myth, the metaphor proved irresistible to writers and moralists. It appears in English texts from at least the 16th century and was popularised during the 17th and 18th centuries as a vivid image for self-deception and cowardice. The Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder even recorded the (false) belief about ostriches in the first century AD, suggesting the myth has ancient roots. Today the idiom is firmly established in everyday English on both sides of the Atlantic. Figurative expressions of this kind are the sort of entry catalogued by major reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary, which track how idiomatic meanings develop and spread.
Examples in Context
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| Stop burying your head in the sand — the problem won't go away on its own. | General warning or rebuke |
| Management buried their heads in the sand about the safety issues for months before the accident. | Workplace negligence |
| You can't bury your head in the sand and hope it resolves itself. | Advice about facing a difficult situation |
| She buried her head in the sand about her debt until bailiffs knocked on the door. | Personal finance avoidance |
| The government has been burying its head in the sand over the housing crisis for years. | Political criticism |
| He knew the relationship was in trouble but buried his head in the sand rather than having a difficult conversation. | Personal relationships |
A Short Dialogue
A: "I've been ignoring the bank statements for months."
B: "You can't keep burying your head in the sand."
A: "I know. I'm just scared of what I'll find."
B: "Facing it now will be much easier than dealing with a crisis later."
Usage Notes
The idiom works with several verb forms: "bury your head in the sand" (infinitive/imperative), "burying your head in the sand" (continuous), and "buried their heads in the sand" (past tense). When the subject is plural, "heads" becomes plural too: "they buried their heads in the sand".
The phrase is generally used negatively — to criticise avoidance or warn against it. It is rarely used to describe someone positively. It suits informal speech, journalism, and opinion writing well. In more formal registers, you might prefer "failed to address", "deliberately ignored", or "chose not to confront".
Common Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
She put her head in the sand when the deadline approached.
She buried her head in the sand when the deadline approached. — The fixed verb is "bury", not "put".
He buried his head in the sand and the problem went away.
He buried his head in the sand, but the problem only got worse. — The idiom implies avoidance fails; pairing it with a positive outcome contradicts the meaning.
Like an emu, she buried her head in the sand.
Like an ostrich, she buried her head in the sand. — The idiom specifically references ostriches, not emus. Note: ostriches don't actually do this, but the idiom is fixed.
Practice
Related Idioms
Practice English Idioms
Use these exercises to master idioms in context:
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Quick Check: Bury your head in the sand
2 questions — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Bury your head in the sand” mean?
2. Complete the sentence: “You can't _____ and hope it resolves itself.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "bury your head in the sand" mean?
"Bury your head in the sand" means to deliberately avoid or ignore a problem, danger, or unpleasant situation rather than confronting it. The person knows the issue exists but chooses to pretend it does not, hoping it will somehow go away on its own.
Where does "bury your head in the sand" come from?
The idiom is based on the popular but scientifically inaccurate belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when frightened. In reality ostriches lower their heads to tend to eggs in ground nests, which from a distance can look like burying. The metaphor has been used in English since at least the 16th century.
Can you give an example of "bury your head in the sand" in a sentence?
"Stop burying your head in the sand — the problem won't go away." Another: "Management buried their heads in the sand about the safety issues until it was too late."
Is "bury your head in the sand" formal or informal?
It is informal to neutral. It is widely understood in both British and American English and works well in conversation, journalism, and informal writing. In formal or academic contexts, prefer "avoid", "ignore", or "fail to address".
What CEFR level is "bury your head in the sand"?
B2. The image of an ostrich hiding from danger is vivid, but the figurative leap from animal behaviour to human avoidance makes it more appropriate for upper-intermediate learners who can handle non-transparent idioms.
Is "bury your head in the sand" positive or negative?
It is negative. It criticises or describes someone who refuses to face reality, implying that the behaviour is irresponsible or counterproductive. It is often used as a rebuke or warning.
What are common mistakes with "bury your head in the sand"?
A common error is saying "put your head in the sand", which is less idiomatic. Another mistake is confusing ostriches with emus — the idiom is specifically about ostrich behaviour. The fixed verb is "bury".
What idioms are similar to "bury your head in the sand"?
Similar expressions include "turn a blind eye" (choose not to notice something), "sweep it under the rug" (hide a problem), "kick the can down the road" (delay dealing with something), and "look the other way" (deliberately ignore wrongdoing).
Can "bury your head in the sand" be used in writing?
Yes, it is widely used in journalism, opinion pieces, and informal essays, often to criticise institutions or individuals who ignore warning signs. For formal reports or academic writing, use more direct language such as "failed to address" or "deliberately ignored".
How do I practise idioms like "bury your head in the sand"?
Think of a real situation where someone avoided an obvious problem — a debt, a health symptom, a relationship issue. Describe that scenario using the idiom, then try LexFizz Flip Tiles to reinforce the phrase through active recall.