pattern

Behavior & Approach - Not Paying Attention

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

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English idioms related to Behavior & Approach
to [get|take|keep] {one's} mind off {sth}

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

Ex: I went for a long walk to take my mind off the interview. 
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brown study

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

Ex: He sat in a brown study and did not hear the door open. 
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to [give] {sb/sth} (a|the) once-over

to examine a thing or person very quickly

Ex: The mechanic gave the car a once-over before the test drive. 
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if (it|this) (was|were) a snake, it would have bitten you

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

Ex: The keys were on the table the whole time; if they were a snake, they would have bitten you. 
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XYZ
XYZ
[sentence]

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

Ex: He leaned over and quietly said, XYZ, before the photo was taken. 
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(head|) in the clouds

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

Ex: He has his head in the clouds if he thinks the startup will make millions in a month. 
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asleep at the wheel

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

Ex: The security team was asleep at the wheel, and the breach went unnoticed for days. 
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