looks the other way
Pretends not noticing
To look the other way is to deliberately ignore wrongdoing or something unpleasant.
The phrase suggests choosing not to see what's right in front of you: The cops looked the other way while the mayor's son dealt drugs.
It implies complicity through inaction—you could intervene but don't.
- willful ignorancePurposely remaining uninformed
- complicityShared criminal involvement
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- head in the sandDeliberate avoidance of reality
- nonfeasanceFailure to perform duty
negligence · denial · suppression · obstruction · bystander effect · none of my business · cover-up · indifference · accessory · omission · enabling · acquiescence · silence · willful blindness · rationalization · dereliction of duty · apathy · groupthink
looks the other wayintervenes
Acts to alter events
takes action · steps in · confronts · calls out · blows the whistle
looks the other wayscrutinizes
Examines in close detail
monitors · examines · watches like a hawk · keeps watch · stares down
look, looks, looked, looking, looker, lookers, outlook, outlooks, overlook