Not Paying Attention: English Vocabulary List

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

"A movie helped get my mind off my problems."

"He listened to loud music to get his mind off his problems at work and at home."

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

"He sat in a brown study."

"He sat in a brown study and did not notice his wife calling him for dinner."

to examine a thing or person very quickly

"He gave me a once-over."

"The security guard gave me a quick once-over before letting me enter the exclusive nightclub downtown."

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

"It would have bitten you!"

"You've been looking for your glasses everywhere, but they are on your head — if it were a snake, it would have bitten you!"

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

"Your zipper is open."

"Excuse me, but I think you should know that your zipper is open and might be causing you some embarrassment."

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

"His head is in clouds."

"She always has her head in the clouds at school."

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

"The guard was asleep at the wheel and missed the thief."

"The security guard was asleep at the wheel and did not see the thief enter the building."