long hard look
Careful, thorough assessment
A long hard look is a careful, thorough examination of something, usually with the implication that honest assessment is needed: It's time to take a long hard look at our spending habits.
The phrase suggests setting aside comfortable assumptions to confront reality directly.
It applies to self-reflection, relationships, policies, or any situation requiring serious scrutiny rather than superficial consideration.
- stareProlonged fixed gaze
- gazeFixed, intent look
- retrospectionContemplating past events
- taking stockAssessing current position
- studyDeliberate learning effort
assessment · self-analysis · focus · examine · deep dive · critique · pondering · scrutinize · judgment · appraisal · eyes · rumination · soul-searching · deliberation · glare · survey · contemplation · observe
long hard lookglance
Brief, casual look
glimpse · peek · passing glance · once-over · skim
long hard lookwillful ignorance
Purposely remaining uninformed
avoidance · looking away · blind eye · turning a blind eye · head in the sand
long hard lookwhitewash
Conceal or coat pale
rubber stamp · glossing over · brush-off · dismissal · willful ignorance
long, hard, look, longer, longest, longish, longing, longingly, prolong