absent

absent (oneself) from

To leave a place, often to avoid something. If my ex-boyfriend does come, I'm going to absent myself from the party.
See also: absent

absent (oneself) from (someone or something)

To avoid or stay away from someone or something. I had to absent myself from his presentation because the sight of him still makes me so angry.
See also: absent

absent without leave

Not present for a duty or situation without permission. The phrase is usually used in reference to military service, and is often abbreviated with the acronym "AWOL." The young soldier was arrested for being absent without leave.
See also: absent, leave, without

absent-minded

Forgetful or inattentive of everyday details or duties, possibly due to a preoccupation with other thoughts. My absent-minded housemate is always lost in composing new poems and never remembers to clean the house or take out the trash!

absent-minded professor

An otherwise intelligent person who often lacks common sense or forgets or overlooks important details. Louis is brilliant, but he's such an absent-minded professor when it comes to remembering to attend important meetings.

long absent, soon forgotten

The longer a person is not present, the easier they are to forget about. A: "Is Carrie really dating someone else now?" B: "You've been gone for months! Long absent, soon forgotten."
See also: forgotten, long, soon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

absent oneself from someone or something

to remain away from or avoid someone or some place. Fred absented himself from the meeting, which he was certain would be boring.
See also: absent

*absent without leave

absent from a military unit without permission; absent from anything without permission. (AWOL is an abbreviation. This is a serious offense in the military. *Typically: be ~; go ~.) The soldier was taken away by the military police because he was absent without leave.
See also: absent, leave, without

absent-minded professor

a bumbling professor who overlooks everyday things. Fred is such an absent-minded professor. He'd forget his head if it wasn't screwed on.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

absent without leave

Away without permission or explanation, as in Her daughter went to the mall but got in trouble for being absent without leave. The term and its acronym, AWOL, originated in the American military during World War I for soldiers absent from duty without permission (leave). It later was transferred to civilian situations, as in John didn't just cut his Tuesday classes; he went AWOL.
See also: absent, leave, without
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • absent (oneself) from
  • absent (oneself) from (someone or something)
  • absent oneself from
  • avoid the trap of (doing something)
  • bury (one's) head in the sand
  • bury head in the sand
  • bury your head in the sand
  • bury/hide your head in the sand
  • bunk (something)
  • bunked
References in periodicals archive
In erstwhile FR of Dera Ismail Khan, 52 per cent absent students were reported while 38 per cent remained absent in FR Kohat and 27 per cent in FR Peshawar.
Report paints bleak picture of education system in merged areas
No matter the reason for being absent, being aware of it is the first step to preventing problems.
Leadershift: Don't let absence impair achievement
TAMESIDE | DFE figures show that 13pc of state secondary pupils in Tameside were classed as persistently absent in the autumn 2017 and spring 2018 terms.
The thousands of kids missing from school
"Because the Court of Appeals in the present case correctly concluded that Maggie was not 'willfully absent' from James in the years leading up to his death, we affirm."
MSC agrees spouse not 'willfully absent'
declaration of the absent person's death, from which succession
A PRIMER ON ABSENT PERSONS IN LOUISIANA
Athuraliye Rathana Thero were also absent during the vote.
Parliament places confidence in Prime Minister
Around 1213 medical officers, 139 women medical officers, 148 senior medical officers were absent from their duties.
CM approves removal of 1500 doctors
public school kindergartners who are chronically absent by almost 50,000 students.
Busing could reduce absenteeism
The Absent Therapist is divided into five chapters, each of which contains between twenty three and forty three unnumbered and untitled sections, whose length varies between a single line and two pages.
Heteroglossia and fragmentariness in the absent therapist by will eaves
KARACHI: Provincial Minister for Health Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar has issued final show cause notices to six long absent doctors.
SIX LONG ABSENT DOCTORS ISSUED FINAL SHOW CAUSE NOTICES
Corneal involvement in the form of decreased or absent sensation was noted in 13 cases (52%), 3 cases had dendritic ulcer (1.2%), 3 patients had stromal keratitis (1.2%) and 1 case had punctuate keratopathy (0.4%).
A study of clinical profile and ophthalmological manifestations of herpes zoster ophthalmicus with HIV seropositivity in Northern Karnataka
For most characters, coding is 'absent' (0) or 'present' (1).
Assessing the Australian soil classification using cladistic analysis
WEST Midlands Police have been failing to properly record and pass on details of all runaways because of computer data linking problems - and may have been wrongly classing runaways as 'absent' rather than 'missing.'.
Police failures blamed on computer systems
The Ann Johnson Absent Friends Trail Race takes place each year to remember Billingham Marsh House Harriers runner Ann Johnson - and other "absent friends" within the running community.
On your marks for trail race inspired by Ann's memory
Poor students are absent an average of 10.1 days a year, non-poor students just 6.9 days.
Student absences, instructional time, and academic achievement