absence (redirected from absences)

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

something that you say which means being apart from someone that you love makes you love them even more. 'My boyfriend's going to South America and I won't see him for six months.' 'Ah well, absence makes the heart grow fonder.'

See also: grow, heart

be conspicuous by your absence (humorous)

if someone is conspicuous by their absence, people notice that they are not present in a place where they are expected to be. Helen was conspicuous by her absence at the meeting yesterday.