for looking away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for looking away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a reason or justification for someone not paying attention or diverting their gaze from something. Example: "He apologized for looking away during the presentation, as he was distracted by a noise outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He had a great gift for looking away and avoiding questions.

The New Yorker

Paying attention sporadically – or even not at all – is still more useful than chiding ourselves or others for looking away.

The Guardian - Opinion

Qaddafi's regime was, of course, built around this kind of violence, but that is a reason for extra wariness now, not for looking away.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Lieb, who lives in Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post that he got the idea for "Look Away" when Grand, a Chicago native, announced plans to head west.

Huffington Post

The first stanza was a fight for control, looking away from the wet page, lips parted and dripping.

The New Yorker

Hell, who could blame you for not looking away?

Vice

Oakley was silent for a moment, looking away.

The New York Times - Sports

"I feel really lucky," he said, then added, "although I hate that word — 'lucky.' " When I asked him why, he mulled it over for a moment, looking away.

The New York Times - Magazine

Explain that for autistic people, looking away is different from not listening.

WikiHow

He tantalizes the boy by looking away for a space and looking back.

The New Yorker

"Those companies will start looking away for savings of 25 and 30 percent".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for looking away" when you want to provide a reason or explanation for why someone is not focusing on something or someone.

Common error

Avoid using "for looking away" when you actually mean a deliberate act of ignoring a problem. In those cases, consider a stronger phrase like "turning a blind eye".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for looking away" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. It often serves as an adverbial modifier, providing a reason or explanation for an action, as showcased in the Ludwig examples where it clarifies the reason behind averting one's gaze or attention.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for looking away" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase that serves to provide a reason or explanation for averting one's gaze or attention. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used to justify a lack of focus, whether intentional or unintentional. While not exceedingly common, the phrase appears in various contexts, including news articles and general writing, making it a versatile choice. Related phrases include "because of averting my gaze" and "due to turning aside". Remember to use it when you need to explain the reason behind someone's diverted attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a consequence of avoiding eye contact

Highlights avoiding eye contact as the result.

because of averting my gaze

Focuses on the reason for avoiding eye contact, emphasizing personal perspective.

due to turning aside

Highlights the act of physically turning away as the cause.

as a result of diverting my attention

Emphasizes that the attention was shifted elsewhere, prompting the action of looking away.

owing to evading the gaze

Formal alternative emphasizing the avoidance of someone's gaze.

given my inattention

Highlights lack of attention as the reason for looking away.

on account of glancing aside

Emphasizes glancing to the side as the reason.

in light of redirecting my vision

Emphasizes a change in vision as the cause.

considering my detour of focus

Emphasizes that the focus was actively redirected.

attributable to deflecting my sight

Formal, suggesting a conscious effort to avoid seeing something.

FAQs

What does "for looking away" mean?

The phrase "for looking away" means providing a reason or justification for not paying attention to something or someone, or for averting one's gaze.

When is it appropriate to use "for looking away"?

It's appropriate to use "for looking away" when you want to explain why someone didn't focus on something, either intentionally or unintentionally. For example, "He apologized "for looking away" during the presentation because he was distracted."

What are some alternative ways to express the idea of "for looking away"?

Alternatives include "because of averting my gaze", "due to turning aside", or "as a result of diverting my attention", depending on the specific context.

Is "for looking away" grammatically correct?

Yes, "for looking away" is grammatically correct. It functions as a prepositional phrase that provides a reason or explanation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.