to pretend not to see something; to condone something wrong. (See also blink at something {2}.) The police officer winked at my failure to make a complete stop. I cannot wink at blatant infractions of the law!
Deliberately overlook, pretend not to see, as in Sometimes it's wise to wink at a friend's shortcomings. This idiom, first recorded in 1537, uses wink in the sense of "close one's eyes."
1. To close and open the eyelid of one eye deliberately in order to convey a message, signal, or suggestion to someone: I knew she liked me when she winked at me.
2. To pretend not to see something; ignore something: The monarchy winked at corruption in the ministry.