give the go-by

give (one) the go-by

To disregard or ignore one. Man, none of these pedestrians will stop and talk to me—they just keep giving me the go-by. Though they've been prolific music-makers for years, the average listener still largely gives them the go-by. Once the economy crashed, we had to give many social welfare projects the go-by, unfortunately.

See also: give

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

give someone the go-by

to bypass someone; to ignore someone. Gert gave us all the go-by when she took up with that rich boyfriend. I didn't mean to give you the goby. I'm preoccupied, that's all.

See also: give

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.