to look the other way

Examples

• All

• And the police did nothing? Everyone just kind of looked the other way.

  Fiction book (2000)

• In cases like these, Song Lee simply had to look the other way.

  Fiction book (2000)

• I paid you to look the other way.

  Samaritan (2022)

• Or you could just look the other way.

  21 Bridges (2019)

• Then you can look the other way.

  Wrath of Man (2021)

• Charlie never learned to look the other way.

  Absentia (2011)

• How much is it gonna take for you to look the other way like you have all your life?

  Snake Eyes (1998)

• Well, look the other way then.

  Waterloo Bridge (1931)

• You were terrified you were gonna be the next target, so people looked the other way.

  She Said (2022)

• But when I found out what was going on, I said we just can't look the other way.

  Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

I

to ignore

vsto look the other way

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

adds a sense of avoiding unpleasant facts specifically to escape responsibility

O

to overlook

vsto look the other way

243 2.9

To not notice someone or something you should see

is deliberate ignoring rather than an accidental omission

L

to look away

vsto look the other way

125 2.2

Turn your eyes away from a person or thing that makes you uncomfortable

is more about consciously not dealing with wrong or unpleasant matters

D

to disregard

vsto look the other way

119 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

is more about avoiding wrongdoing or unpleasant matters deliberately

T

to turn a blind eye

vsto look the other way

41 5.4

Choose to ignore something wrong

is the same deliberate avoidance but stated more neutrally

L

to let it slide

vsto look the other way

• Informal

38 5.9

To ignore a small mistake to avoid an argument

is stronger, covering deliberate ignoring of serious or unpleasant matters too

P

to pass over

vsto look the other way

28 4.1

To ignore someone or something on purpose

is similar but often implies avoiding unpleasant issues specifically

S

to shrug off

vsto look the other way

27 3.9

Treat something as unimportant and ignore it

is closer to deliberate avoidance of wrongdoing rather than emotional detachment

A

to avert

vsto look the other way

25 5.0

To turn your eyes or face away to avoid something unpleasant

is similar but the key emphasizes ignoring wrong things to avoid responsibility

T

to turn away from

vsto look the other way

15 3.7

To refuse to have anything to do with someone or something

differs by focusing on avoidance of wrongdoing specifically, not general rejection

B

to brush aside

vsto look the other way

13 4.5

Ignore a person or thing because you think they are not important

focuses more on avoiding dealing with unpleasant matters rather than quick dismissal

P

to push aside

vsto look the other way

7 4.1

Refuse to think about something, for example worries or objections

is similar but often implies avoiding specific wrong or unpleasant issues

P

to pretend not to notice

vsto look the other way

5 5.6

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

is broader, focusing on avoiding unpleasant issues rather than just embarrassment

B

to bury one's head in the sand

vsto look the other way

• Informal

5 7.7

To ignore a problem instead of dealing with it

is similar but often stresses conscious ignoring to avoid dealing with it

T

to turn a deaf ear

vsto look the other way

4 6.1

Refuse to listen to someone who gives advice or warnings

is wider, covering ignoring actions or facts beyond just not listening

S

to sidestep the issue

vsto look the other way

1 6.0

To avoid answering a difficult question by changing the subject

is broader, implying simple ignoring rather than tactical avoidance

P

to pass up

vsto look the other way

• Informal

1 4.7

To ignore someone you meet by pretending not to see them

is broader, applying to ignoring unpleasant facts rather than brief social snubs

K

to keep one's eyes off

vsto look the other way

1 5.9

Avoid looking at someone or something on purpose

is broader, covering ignoring by action or choice rather than only gaze

B

to be an ostrich

vsto look the other way

9.7

To ignore an obvious problem and pretend it is not there

shares pretending avoidance but is framed as a behavior label rather than action

P

to push under the carpet

vsto look the other way

• UK

7.3

To ignore or hide problems instead of dealing with them

is similar but stresses open ignoring rather than secret concealment

Antonyms

A

to address

∞ 3.6

To deal with a subject in speech or writing

A

to acknowledge

367 3.8

To admit that something is true or real

How Involved

to intervene

197 5.0

to report

686 1.6

to help

∞ 1.0

to look the other way

69 4.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology