turn one's back on

1. Deny, reject; also abandon, forsake. For example, I can't turn my back on my own daughter, no matter what she's done, or He simply turned his back on them and never gave it a second thought. [c. 1400] Also see when one's back is turned.

Related Words

• decline 
• ignore 
• protest 
• rebuff 
• reject 
• turn down 
• withdraw 
• withhold