ostrich politics

English

Etymology

From ostrich +‎ politics, calque of German Vogel-Strauß-Politik. Named after the common misconception that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when confronted with danger. First attested in the late 19th century.

Noun

ostrich politics (uncountable)

1. (derogatory) A style of politics that evades rather than addresses problems; ostrichism.

Related terms

• ostrich effect
• ostrich policy

 

Translations

evasive style of politics

• Afrikaans: volstruispolitiek
• Dutch: struisvogelpolitiek (nl) f
• Finnish: strutsipolitiikka
• French: politique de l’autruche (fr) f
• German: Vogel-Strauß-Politik (de) f
• Hungarian: struccpolitika (hu)
• Polish: strusia polityka (pl) f
• Portuguese: política de avestruz f
• Russian: страуси́ная поли́тика (ru) f (strausínaja polítika)
• Spanish: política de avestruz f
• West Frisian: strúsfûgelpolityk c

See also

• bury one's head in the sand
• head in the sand