Expressions used in Everyday Spoken English in Social and Professional contexts
look the other way
look the other way
1) ignore wrongdoing
- How to MemorizePopularity HighProfessional MediumSocial
- be willing to look the other way
- AnalysisThis expression is generally used when the person doing the ignoring has a responsibility to report on wrongdoing or to enforce a set of laws or rules but chooses not to. You can willingly 'look the other way' out of a sense of justice, indifference, or if the transgressor is a friend or relation, but people also do so less willingly out of fear. It can be used in a social or professional context but is more common in the latter.
- Social Examples (Advance)
- I know he's your friend, but you can't keep looking the other way when he does something wrong. He needs to be told that his behaviour is unacceptable.
- Residents are afraid of the criminals in the area and so look the other way rather than report lawbreakers.
- Professional Examples (Advance)
- I usually come down hard on people who miss a deadline, but your record up to now has been exemplary, so I'm willing to look the other way.
- A lot of bullying went on in that office when I worked there, but management always looked the other way. I think they were afraid of cracking down on the ringleaders.
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