faraway look

faraway look

A facial expression or gaze that suggests that one is preoccupied by or contemplating something and not paying attention to one's current surroundings. Based on that faraway look on his face, I doubt he's heard a word I've said.
See also: look
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

faraway look

 and far-off look
Fig. an appearance on one's face of having one's mind in another place. Dave had a faraway look in his eyes, so I elbowed him to get his attention. Lisa's face had a far-off look indicating that she was daydreaming.
See also: look
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • far-off look
  • spaced (out)
  • spacey
  • spacy
  • gaze at (one's) navel
  • can't see past the end of (one's) nose
  • have (one's) mind on (something)
  • be in the thick of it
  • boys and their toys
  • nerd magnet
References in periodicals archive
The last few days of work before a holiday sees everyone with a slightly springier step, a ready smile and faraway look in the eye.
With help from support worker Georgie, I got her to her feet, a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes.
LONDON: A woman cradling a baby, a child's drawing of his friends playing football surrounded by tanks, weary men sitting hunched in a tent with a faraway look in their eyes -- these are some of the closely observed scenes captured by 12 artists who ventured into war zones and refugee centers to record the lives of men, women and children fleeing bombs, oppression and poverty.
take on a faraway look, then back to his glass, to me
No wonder you have this faraway look in your eyes today.
Lelang tried to be stoic, a habit developed by the harsh nature of the war years but the listlessness, the hesitancy, the faraway look was palpably visible.
Now the dreams have come true and if in the glare of the media spotlight he has a faraway look in his eye it's not difficult to work out why.
Robinho was the first, his flickering skills delighting City fans one minute, and his faraway look, as if pining for the Copacabana, frustrating them the next.
Many contemplate with their cuppa on the future with a faraway look in their eyes; just savouring a sip can bring back fond memories.
"Everybody is obsessed with cricket these days!" he said with a soft faraway look in his eyes.
Steve never took his focus off those rafted birds and then, with that faraway look only available to the truly obsessed, said, "Aren't they something?"
That said, the actual film is still rather B-movie-ish, David performing mad-scientist grafts like Dr Moreau from The Island of Dr Moreau while Fassbender does the Anthony Hopkins thing of wearing a faraway look in his eye to denote 'sinister'.
Among her topics are Carolyn Shoemaker: a faraway look, Dorothy Stratton finds a Bible, Helen Schleman: born in the right moment, Amelia Earhart: cabbages and kings, Lillian Gilbreth: the one best way, Beverly Stone: a lovely light, Barbara Ivy Wood Cook: 'tis a gift to be free, Bible bequeathed, Betty Mitchell Nelson: message in the Hollow Oak, in walks the pantsuit, easier to move a cemetery, to understand more than one knows, and the place just right.
Fans became worried about the vlogger after she appeared to (http://www.ibtimes.com/what-happened-marina-joyce-youtuber-apparently-whispers-save-me-amid-abuse-drug-2394990) have bruises on her arms and had a faraway look in her eyes.
He started advertising his candidate and the driver nodded, with a faraway look on his face.