Literal translation
he sees the tip of his nose
Meaning
he can't see past the end of his nose
Explanation
Taken literally, the sentence sounds harmless, since everyone can indeed see the tip of their own nose; it is precisely this trivial obviousness that carries the figurative meaning: the expression signals that someone's sight, both literal and in the sense of judgment and discernment, does not reach any farther than that minimal distance. It is said of someone who lacks perspective, foresight, or open-mindedness, unable to anticipate the consequences of their actions or to consider a problem beyond their immediate interest. The phrase matches exactly the French idiom about not seeing further than the tip of one's nose, sharing both its image and its construction, the restrictive sense not always being marked by an explicit negation in popular Provençal, where it is inferred from context and tone. The register is familiar, often critical, used to reproach someone for their lack of vision or discernment in a matter.