look away

Meaning

To 'look away' means to turn your eyes or gaze away from someone or something. This physical action is often done out of embarrassment, shyness, fear, boredom, or discomfort.

Examples

• The movie was so scary that I had to look away during the horror scenes.

  The movie was so scary that I had to look away during the horror scenes.

• When our eyes met, she blushed and quickly looked away.

  When our eyes met, she blushed and quickly looked away.

• Don't look away when I am talking to you; it's polite to make eye contact.

  Don't look away when I am talking to you; it's polite to make eye contact.

• He looked away from the bright screen to rest his tired eyes.

  He looked away from the bright screen to rest his tired eyes.

• She couldn't bear to watch the needle, so she looked away while getting the vaccine.

  She couldn't bear to watch the needle, so she looked away while getting the vaccine.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She looked away of the accident.

  ✓ She looked away from the accident.

  Use the preposition 'from' (not 'of') to indicate the object or direction you are turning your eyes away from.

• ✗ I had to look off because the sun was too bright.

  ✓ I had to look away because the sun was too bright.

  'Look off' is not standard English for turning your eyes away; 'look away' is the correct phrasal verb.

Related Expressions

Practice

• During the sad part of the video, I had to ___.

  💡 turn my eyes elsewhere

  Show answer

  look away

• If you feel dizzy, ___ from the window and sit down.

  💡 stop looking out

  Show answer

  look away