目めを背そむける

expression, ichidan verb

look away; avert one's gaze

Physically turning one's eyes away from something, often because it is unpleasant, embarrassing, or shocking.

• 彼かれは事じ故この現げん場ばから目めを背そむけた。

  He looked away from the scene of the accident.

• 彼かの女じょは恥はずかしくて彼かれから目めを背そむけた。

  She was so embarrassed that she averted her gaze from him.

expression, ichidan verb

disregard; ignore

Figuratively ignoring or pretending not to see a problem, fact, or uncomfortable truth. Often used with abstract objects like 現実 (reality) or 問題 (problem).

• 彼かれは自じ分ぶんの失しっ敗ぱいから目めを背そむけている。

  He is ignoring his own mistakes.

• 現げん実じつから目めを背そむけてはいけない。

  You must not turn away from reality.

expression, ichidan verb

escape from; turn away from

Avoiding or distancing oneself from a situation, responsibility, or relationship. Similar to sense 2 but often implies a more active avoidance or escape.

• 彼かれは困こん難なんな状じょう況きょうから目めを背そむけて逃にげ出だした。

  He turned away from the difficult situation and ran away.

• 自じ分ぶんの弱よわさから目めを背そむけずに向むき合あおう。

  Let's face our weaknesses without turning away from them.