stare (off) into space

stare (off) into space

To stare vacantly or absentmindedly at nothing in particular, usually while one is preoccupied with or distracted by thoughts of something else. I sat at the back of class, staring off into space, when suddenly the solution came to me. He just stared into space as his parents lectured him on the importance of paying attention during class.
See also: space, stare
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

look/stare/gaze into ˈspace

look straight in front of you without looking at a particular thing, usually because you are thinking about something: I asked her twice if she was ready to leave but she just sat there staring into space.
See also: gaze, look, space, stare
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • gaze (off) into space
  • look (off) into space
  • look/stare/gaze into space
  • spaced (out)
  • spacey
  • spacy
  • fix (one) with a stare
  • gapeseed
  • be in the thick of it
  • be in the thick of things