turn away

verb

1. to move or cause to move in a different direction so as not to face something

   one of the child turned away while the others hid

2. (tr) to refuse admittance or assistance to

   dozens of people were turned away from the hostel

Idioms and Phrases

Send away, dismiss, as in They ran short and had to turn away many customers . [Late 1500s]

Repel, as in The high prices turned away prospective buyers .

Avert, deflect, as in She managed to turn away all criticism . [Late 1300s]

Example Sentences

But I do think the people Microsoft is targeting with this product are hardly going to be turned away by a lack of polish.

Read more on BBC

One woman in a hijab quietly asked if I had been turned away too, worried it might have been because of her clothing.

Read more on BBC

For the third straight fall season, though, a sheriff’s deputy and signage will turn away drivers trying to get a glimpse.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Journalists observed women and foreign media being turned away.

Read more on BBC

Investors might not love the dollar, but it’s too deeply embedded in global finance to turn away from it.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• backfire 
• balk 
• blanch 
• blink 
• cringe 
• demur 
• flinch 
• hesitate 
• reel 
• shudder 
• tremble 
• waver 
• wince