If someone can't see beyond their nose, or can't see beyond the end of their nose, they think only about themselves and their immediate needs, rather than about other people or more important issues relating to the future. Where the environment is concerned, sadly, this government can't see beyond the end of its nose. Note: You can replace beyond with further than or past, and see with other verbs. It is high time that British industry started thinking beyond the end of its nose.