look away

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Jackson6612

#482087 Wed, 27 Feb 08 12:00 AM

What does phrase ''look away'' mean?

Jackson6612

Joined on Wed, Dec 27 2006

Senior Member (3,132)

NOTE: When you reply to my post, please look for mistakes in grammar, syntax or punctuation, and let me know of any suggestions you have. Thank you.

Yankee

#482106 Wed, 27 Feb 08 12:53 AM

Have you checked a dictionary, Jackson?

Without any context, I'd say it means 'avert one's gaze'.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=look+away&r=66

Context could affect the meaning, however. If the definition above doesn't seem right in a specific sentence, then please post the whole sentence.

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,263)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Avangi

#482107 Wed, 27 Feb 08 12:55 AM

It needs context to make sense. You need to know where the focus of attention is supposed to be. If I say, "Don't look away when I'm talking to you!," I mean, "Don't look away from me."

"I just saw a really bad car accident. I had to look away. It was too horrible!

Avangi

Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007

Senior Member (3,671)

". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

CalifJim

#482108 Wed, 27 Feb 08 12:58 AM

Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten,
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.

In Dixie Land, where I was born in,
Early on one frosty mornin',
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.

I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.

______

You got me! What does it mean? Big Smile

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,564)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Avangi

#482114 Wed, 27 Feb 08 01:04 AM

Look toward the South?

Avangi

#482132 Wed, 27 Feb 08 01:36 AM

Hey, Jim,

Another old farmer I knew (a well-educated man) often used a whole string of prepositions: away off down through the meadow. I think the song is like that. Way up yonder becomes a-way up yonder becomes away up yonder. So the song means look toward, not away from.

Regards, - A.

Avangi

Regards, Prepositions

Delmobile

#482158 Wed, 27 Feb 08 02:31 AM

Isn't it in another folk song, too - the one about going away, and who will tie your shoe while I am gone?

"For who will tie your shoe, and who will glove your hand, and who will kiss your ruby lips while I am gone? Look away, look away, look away over Yandro."

It certainly is a wistful preposition.

Delmobile

Joined on Wed, Jan 2 2008

Mobile, AL, USA

Regular Member (543)

Prepositions

CalifJim

#482184 Wed, 27 Feb 08 03:58 AM

Delmobile
who will kiss your ruby lips while I am gone?

This belongs in the be-careful-what-you-ask category, I think.

As for look away, it's equally meaningless here. In songs I suspect it's filler like fa-la-la-la-la. Smile

CalifJim

Jackson6612

#483286 Fri, 29 Feb 08 05:29 PM

CalifJim

Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there are not forgotten,
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.

In Dixie Land, where I was born in,
Early on one frosty mornin',
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land.

I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.
Away, away, away down south in Dixie.