wink at

verb

1. (intr, preposition) to connive at; disregard

   the authorities winked at corruption

Idioms and Phrases

Deliberately overlook, pretend not to see, as in Sometimes it's wise to wink at a friend's shortcomings. This idiom, first recorded in 1537, uses wink in the sense of “close one's eyes.”

Related Words

• acquit 
• condone 
• defend 
• exempt 
• exonerate 
• explain 
• forgive 
• indulge 
• let go 
• pardon 
• relieve 
• spare 
• tolerate