The phrase "look away" is spelled with the letters l-o-o-k, a diphthong u-e as the middle two letters, and the letters a-w-a-y. The phonetic transcription of this phrase is /lʊk əˈweɪ/. The first syllable is pronounced with the vowel sound ʊ as in book, while the second syllable is pronounced with the schwa sound ə, commonly used in unstressed syllables. The last syllable is pronounced with the diphthong sound eɪ as in day. Together, the phrase means to avert one's gaze or turn one's eyes away from something.
The phrase "look away" refers to the intentional act of averting one's gaze or directing one's eyes elsewhere. It entails purposefully moving one's vision or attention away from a particular object, person, or scene. This action is typically carried out in response to various circumstances, such as an attempt to avoid confrontation, discomfort, or witnessing something unpleasant or distressing.
"Look away" can be both a physical and metaphorical concept. In its physical sense, it involves physically turning one's head or shifting the position of one's eyes away from the subject matter. This action can be voluntary where an individual consciously chooses to divert their attention or involuntary when the instinctive reaction is to reflexively glance away.
Metaphorically, "look away" refers to diverting one's thoughts or focus from a specific matter or issue. This figurative description suggests a deliberate effort to disregard or ignore something that might be emotionally challenging, morally disturbing, or ethically conflicting. It can be seen as an act of self-preservation, shielding oneself from potentially distressing or uncomfortable experiences.
In popular culture, the phrase "look away" has been used metaphorically to denote the act of intentionally ignoring or denying a truth or reality. It implies a deliberate refusal to acknowledge an unpleasant situation, often reflecting a desire to maintain a state of blissful ignorance or denial in the face of the truth.
The word "look away" is a combination of the verb "look" and the adverb "away".
The word "look" originated from the Middle English word "loken" or "lōcian", which came from the Old English word "lōcian" meaning "to see, observe, or perceive". This Old English root can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "lokjaną", meaning "to see" or "to look".
The word "away" likely originated from the Old English word "on weg", which means "onward" or "along the road". Over time, "on weg" contracted to "onwo", "onwoh", and eventually "away" in Middle English. It became associated with the idea of movement in a direction opposite to the current position or orientation.