English Idioms for "Not Paying Attention"

Master English idioms that relate to not paying attention, like "asleep at the wheel" and "brown study".

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to distract someone's attention or thoughts away from something, typically something stressful, worrisome, or unpleasant

Ex: After a long day at work , she decided to take a bubble bath to get her mind off the stress and unwind .

brown study [noun]

a state in which one is very deep in thought and not aware of one's surroundings

Ex: When she 's in a brown study , it 's challenging to get her attention ; she becomes completely absorbed in her own world .

to examine a thing or person very quickly

Ex:

said to mean that what a person is searching for is right where they are, but they have failed to notice it

Ex:

XYZ [sentence]

used to tell someone that the zipper of their pants is open

Ex:

(head|) in the clouds [phrase]

used to say that a person is thinking about things that are unrealistic or impractical

Ex: She 's a talented artist , but she often has her head in the clouds , which can make it challenging for her to stay organized .

asleep at the wheel [phrase]

not paying attention or not doing one's job properly, often resulting in mistakes or negative consequences

Ex: I was asleep at the wheel during the meeting , I did n't take any notes .

Behavior & Approach
Foresight & Prudence	Overreaction	Tact	Being Tactful
Improvisation & Compromise	Behaving Politely	Lack of Care or Consideration	Without Care or Thought
Reacting or Demanding	Conversational Responses	Showing Surprise	Paying or Getting Attention
Not Paying Attention	Offensive Behavior	Reaction & Response	Jealousy & Competition
Harsh & Strict Treatment