see past the end of one's nose

present singular third person sees past the end of one's nose · participle present seeing past the end of one's nose · past saw past the end of one's nose · participle past seen past the end of one's nose

1. idiomaticTo have insight into underlying facts or consequences; to possess common sense or a vision for the future.

   He probably thought she was an overprotective, neurotic mother who couldn't see past the end of her nose where her son was concerned.

   2011, Carrie Turansky, chapter 14, in Along Came Love, →ISBN

   4 more examples

   “If you could find a curator somewhere—I admit this is difficult—who can see beyond the end of his nose, he would be glad to be a true innovator and get out of the international rut.”

   1964 September 13, John Canaday, “Hello Sr. Brest”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 Dec 2015

   If my mother got on your case for being thoughtless or lacking in prudence or foresight, she likely would declare that you could not "see past the end of your nose".

   1988 December 7, Robert Maynard, “Bush better not ignore Mexico”, in Spartanburg Herald-Journal, US, retrieved 15 Dec 2015, page A10

   “Why didn't you tell me that you couldn't see past the end of your nose?” she demanded. “Do you realize the trouble you've caused?”

   2007, Sharan Newman, Heresy: A Catherine LeVendeur Mystery, →ISBN

   It turned out that the BBC and its panel of newspaper experts couldn't see past the end of their own noses, let alone get a glimpse of the stars. The shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year was an absolute scandal of omission.

   2009 December 26, Mark Reason, “Huge shadow of Tiger Woods dominates the decade of sport”, in Telegraph, UK, retrieved 15 Dec 2015