absence
Related to absence: Absence makes the heart grow fonder
absence makes the heart grow fonder
proverb A separation causes one to feel even more positive about the absent person or thing. We'll see if absence makes the heart grow fonder after our time apart. I really started to miss school over winter break. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess.
See also: absence, grow, heart, make
be conspicuous by (one's) absence
To be noticeably missing from something. You're the loudest one in the class, so of course you're conspicuous by your absence!
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
conspicuous by (one's)/it's absence
Especially noticeable because of being missing or absent (from something). You're the loudest one in the class, so of course you're conspicuous by your absence! The governor's economic stimulus plan was conspicuous by its absence during his speech this afternoon.
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
in the absence of (someone or something)
Because someone or something is not available or present. You're a better cook than I am—what can we substitute in the absence of butter? In the absence of our secretary, who will log the minutes?
See also: absence, of
leave of absence
A period of time spent away from one's job or duty with the express permission of one's employer, supervisor, etc. They let him take a leave of absence to care for his mother after her car accident. She's taking a leave of absence to finish her master's degree.
See also: absence, leave, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Prov. You will like someone or something better if that person or thing is far away. Ever since Carla's boyfriend moved away, she can't stop thinking about him. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
See also: absence, grow, heart, make
*conspicuous by one's absence
Cliché noticeably absent (from an event). (*Typically: be ~; made ~.) How could the bride's father miss the wedding? He was certainly conspicuous by his absence.
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
in the absence of someone or something
while someone or something isn't here; without someone or something. In the absence of the cook, I'll prepare dinner. In the absence of opposition, she won easily.
See also: absence, of
leave of absence
a period of time away from one's job, with the employer's permission. Mr. Takaguchi is on leave of absence because he is going back to school. His leave of absence is expected to end next month.
See also: absence, leave, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
absence makes the heart grow fonder
Separation intensifies love, as in After a year in another country she accepted his proposal, so I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder , or, used ironically, The boss leaves earlier every day; oh well, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Although versions of this saying date from Roman times, it only became popular after Thomas Haynes Bayly used it as the last line of a song in The Isle of Beauty (1850). The opposite sentiment is expressed by familiarity breeds contempt.
See also: absence, grow, heart, make
conspicuous by its absence
Also, conspicuous by one's absence. Glaringly obvious by the fact of not being there. For example, One agenda item concerning publicity is conspicuous by its absence, or The bride's father was conspicuous by his absence. The idea is ancient; it was expressed by the Roman writer Tacitus, concerning the absence of Junia's brother and husband at her funeral procession. [Mid-1800s]
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
conspicuous by your/its absence
If someone or something is conspicuous by their absence, people notice that they are not there. He played no part in the game and was conspicuous by his absence at the post-match celebrations. Mathematics and science were conspicuous by their absence at the university.
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
conspicuous by your absence
obviously not present in a place where you should be.This phrase was coined by Lord John Russell in a speech made in 1859 . He acknowledged as his source for the idea a passage in Tacitus describing a procession of images at a funeral: the fact that those of Cassius and Brutus were absent attracted a great deal of attention.
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
ˌabsence makes the heart grow ˈfonder
(saying) used to say that when you are away from somebody that you love, you love them even more OPPOSITE: out of sight, out of mindSee also: absence, grow, heart, make
leave of ˈabsence
(formal) permission to be away from work for a particular period of time: Several of my colleagues have had leave of absence to go on training courses.See also: absence, leave, of
conˌspicuous by your ˈabsence
not present in a situation or place, when it is obvious that you should be there: When it came to cleaning up afterwards, Anne was conspicuous by her absence.See also: absence, by, conspicuous
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
absence makes the heart grow fonder
A separation enhances love. This counterpart of familiarity breeds contempt first appeared in an anthology of poems published in 1602 (it was the first line of an anonymous poem), but it was more or less ignored until it reappeared in 1850 as the last line of a song, “The Isle of Beauty,” by T. Haynes Bayly. Within the next half-century it was used so much that by 1900 it was a threadbare cliché. “You’re a dedicated swallower of fascism You’re an accident waiting to happen.” —Billy Bragg
See also: absence, grow, heart, make
conspicuous by one's (its) absence
Noticeable by the very fact of not being there. The idea was expressed very early on by the Roman historian Tacitus, in recording the absence of Junia’s brother, Brutus, and her husband, Cassius, at her funeral procession. The phrase became popular in the nineteenth century, and continued to be applied often to political matters, such as the absence of certain provisions in a law, or the absence of political leaders on certain important occasions.
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
conspicuous by its absence
Very obvious through nonattendance. This oxymoron, which goes back to ancient Rome, applies to people or objects that attracted attention because they were expected to be present but weren't. An example would be a close relative who either wasn't invited or chose not to attend a family function. Some literary commentators contend that the phrase has become a cliché, but it's now used so rarely, you may—although at your peril—claim its wit to be your own.
See also: absence, by, conspicuous
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
- absence makes the heart grow fonder
- teach a man to fish
- village
- it takes a village
- a man is judged by the company he keeps
- a man is known by the company he keeps
- a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bunch
- a rotten apple spoils the (whole) bushel
- a bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
- bushel