to wink at

Examples

• All

• "Common sense?" If Medeous was winking at illegal drugs, Janet didn't want to know about it.

  Fiction book (1991)

• I wink at her.

  Fiction book (1999)

• And I was supposed to wink at this?

  Fiction book (1991)

• People with power on the right either wink at this or pretend it's not happening.

  ReasonTV

• But we have learned to wink at the Bible in the West, whereas Islam, to a much greater extent, takes it very seriously.

• It will soon be the time of Carnevale when authority winks at our indiscretions.

  Casanova (2005)

• But then dig down and like, say, if harassment is being winked at, you know, or being whistled at, then you know, really, is this really such a well, here's something.

• The teacher decided to wink at the student's minor mistake instead of calling it out in front of the class.

• The manager often winks at small infractions, allowing employees some leeway to encourage a relaxed atmosphere.

• Parents may wink at harmless mischief among their children, believing it fosters creativity.

Synonyms

T

to turn a blind eye

vsto wink at

41 5.4

Choose to ignore something wrong

implies silent approval or encouragement beyond mere ignoring

P

to pretend not to notice

vsto wink at

5 5.6

To act as if you do not see something to avoid making someone feel embarrassed

shows quiet approval or encouragement rather than avoidance

C

to connive at

vsto wink at

• Formal

9.5

To secretly allow something wrong to happen

is milder showing quiet approval rather than active collusion

Antonyms

A

to acknowledge

367 3.8

To admit that something is true or real

C

to condemn

298 4.0

To strongly criticize someone or something publicly

D

to denounce

• Formal

115 6.8

Publicly criticize someone or something strongly

How Permissive

to encourage

325 2.1

to wink at

1 7.5

to approve

∞ 1.6

to criticize

701 3.3

to punish

821 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology