Blind Freddy

English 2006 January 30 Etymology The use of "Blind Freddy" meaning "anyone can see..." dates to at least 19071907 August 21, “The Ring”, article in The Sydney Sportsman. Theories concerning actual persons called Blind Freddy include reference to: A blind hawker called Freddy or Freddie who lived in Sydney in the 1920s.1966, Sidney J. Baker, The Australian Language, second edition, page 269. A police officer, Sir Frederick William Pottinger, who was in charge of the Lachlan district. The success of bushranger Ben Hall in evading capture there in 1862 is claimed to have earned Pottinger the nickname "Blind Freddy".2004 November 24, “Gift of sight”, article in Sydney Morning Herald. However, no contemporary evidence that Pottinger was so called exists. Various Australian individuals were known as "Blind Freddy" or "Blind Freddie" from at least 1902, in apparent reference to an actual physical infirmity1902 October 1, “Random Rinkles”, article in The Sydney Sportsman. Pronunciation en En-au-Blind Freddy.ogg AU Proper noun Blind Freddy en Australia informal An imaginary incapacitated person held up as an archetype of incapacity: what blind Freddy can see (understand) must be very obvious. From 1940s. en 1965 Leonie Judith Gibson Kramer Coast to Coast: Australian Stories, 1963-1964 80 http://books.google.com.au/books?id=fIdJAAAAMAAJ&q=%22blind+freddy%22+-intitle:%22blimey%22&dq=%22blind+freddy%22+-intitle:%22blimey%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=oR3zTpPJMpGKmQWq9-y2Ag&redir_esc=y “I thought you might have bet on Mart,” Angus said coldly. “Just for old times′ sake.”“Don't be Uncle Willy,” Jerry admonished him, mildly. “Old Blind Freddy could'a seen Mart was a gonner. Although I admit I had the wind up a couple′a times!” Angus felt the blood rise in his face. en 1973 Council of Law Reporting for New South Wales New South Wales Law Reports 2 54 http://books.google.com.au/books?id=SbY_AQAAIAAJ&q=%22blind+freddy%22+-intitle:%22blimey%22&dq=%22blind+freddy%22+-intitle:%22blimey%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TSLzTrHIHOTjmAXfhq2GAg&redir_esc=y Mr Cook said ‘Look, blind Freddy would know that was for scaffolding,’ and he said, ‘Yes, of course,’. He did not have to be told, blind Freddy would know it, anybody in the timber trade would know it. en 1978 w:David Williamson The Club 18 http://books.google.com.au/books?id=rArQAAAAMAAJ&q=%22blind+freddy%22+-intitle:%22blimey%22&dq=%22blind+freddy%22+-intitle:%22blimey%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=yibzTvrKMMOKmQWKnJiEAg&redir_esc=y Blind Freddy could have seen that Danny was being beaten pointless, but Laurie refused to shift him until the last quarter. Translations imaginary incapacitated person Finnish: fi sokea Reetta References en eponyms