conspicuous by (one's)/it's absence
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
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
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
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
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
- conspicuous by absence
- conspicuous by its absence
- conspicuous by your absence
- conspicuous by your/its absence
- be conspicuous by (one's) absence
- conspicuous
- make a mountain out of a molehill
- make a thing of
- molehill
- strain at a gnat