absence makes the heart grow fonder
proverb A separation causes one to feel even more positive about the absent person or thing. We'll see if absence makes the heart grow fonder after our time apart. I really started to miss school over winter break. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess. I can't believe I missed my girlfriend's cat so much while I was away. Guess it's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder!
be conspicuous by (one's)/its absence
To be especially noticeable by 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. A: "How could you tell that I didn't add cinnamon this time?" B: "Well, it's a flavor that's pretty conspicuous by its absence."
be made conspicuous by (one's)/(something's) absence
To become especially noticeable as a result of being missing or absent (from something). The gala was meant to feature all the top talent in Hollywood, which is why several high-profile actors were made conspicuous by their absence from the event. The governor's economic stimulus plan, which he spent the majority of his campaign championing, was made all the more conspicuous by its absence during his first public speech since winning the election. I hoped people wouldn't notice that I'd forgotten to add cinnamon to the recipe, but it seems to have been made conspicuous by its absence.
conspicuous by (one's)/its absence
Especially noticeable by 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. A: "How could you tell that I didn't add cinnamon this time?" B: "Well, it's a flavor that's pretty conspicuous by its absence."
in the absence of (someone or something)
Because someone or something is not available or present. You're a better cook than I am—what can we substitute in the absence of butter? In the absence of our secretary, who will log the minutes? In the absence of any other evidence, the court is sure to dismiss a he-said-she-said case like this one.
leave of absence
A period of time spent away from one's job or duty with the express permission of one's employer, supervisor, etc. They let him take a leave of absence to care for his mother after her car accident. She's taking a leave of absence to finish her master's degree.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Prov. You will like someone or something better if that person or thing is far away. Ever since Carla's boyfriend moved away, she can't stop thinking about him. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
*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.
in the absence of someone or something
while someone or something isn't here; without someone or something. In the absence of the cook, I'll prepare dinner. In the absence of opposition, she won easily.
leave of absence
a period of time away from one's job, with the employer's permission. Mr. Takaguchi is on leave of absence because he is going back to school. His leave of absence is expected to end next month.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
absence makes the heart grow fonder
Separation intensifies love, as in
After a year in another country she accepted his proposal, so I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder , or, used ironically,
The boss leaves earlier every day; oh well, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Although versions of this saying date from Roman times, it only became popular after Thomas Haynes Bayly used it as the last line of a song in
The Isle of Beauty (1850). The opposite sentiment is expressed by
familiarity breeds contempt.
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
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.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˌabsence makes the heart grow ˈfonder
(saying) used to say that when you are away from somebody that you love, you love them even more OPPOSITE: out of sight, out of mindleave of ˈabsence
(formal) permission to be away from work for a particular period of time: Several of my colleagues have had leave of absence to go on training courses.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.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
absence makes the heart grow fonder
A separation enhances love. This counterpart of familiarity breeds contempt first appeared in an anthology of poems published in 1602 (it was the first line of an anonymous poem), but it was more or less ignored until it reappeared in 1850 as the last line of a song, “The Isle of Beauty,” by T. Haynes Bayly. Within the next half-century it was used so much that by 1900 it was a threadbare cliché. “You’re a dedicated swallower of fascism You’re an accident waiting to happen.” —Billy Bragg
conspicuous by one's (its) absence
Noticeable by the very fact of not being there. The idea was expressed very early on by the Roman historian Tacitus, in recording the absence of Junia’s brother, Brutus, and her husband, Cassius, at her funeral procession. The phrase became popular in the nineteenth century, and continued to be applied often to political matters, such as the absence of certain provisions in a law, or the absence of political leaders on certain important occasions.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price