ENGLISH
REFERENCE

look the other way

idiom
Meaning

To ignore something wrong; to turn a blind eye to something; to connive at something.


Examples
SIMPLE

The guard looked the other way when the boy stole an apple.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager knew about the small errors but decided to look the other way to avoid a conflict.

COMPLEX

Although the corruption was evident to everyone in the office, the supervisor chose to look the other way rather than risk his own reputation.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a little of something goes a long way

    Only a small amount of something is usually required to produce a great effect.

  2. 02

    all the way to Egery and back

    The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.

  3. 03

    butcher's

    [Cockney slang]look

  4. 04

    by the way

    Irrelevantly, off-topic.

  5. 05

    come a long way

    To make significant progress.

  6. 06

    cry all the way to the bank

    To be happy due to the receipt of money, but sad about the cause.

  7. 07

    cut both ways

    To have both benefits and drawbacks.

  8. 08

    die the way one lived

    To die because of or after doing something characteristic of oneself, especially something that one enjoyed doing.

Last updated April 17, 2026