arm candy »
An attractive, seemingly romantic companion who accompanies a person in public simply so that one or both of the individuals can gain attention, enhance social status, or create an impression of sexual appeal.
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at hand »
Being at the moment the center of attention or the cause of trouble.
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back away »
Of your attention on the thing in front being avoided.
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back-cloth star »
An actor who stands upstage, forcing the other actors to face him and turn their backs to the audience, in order to gain more attention to himself.
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blame Canada »
A catch phrase for shifting attention away from a serious social issue by laying responsibility with Canada.
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box on the ear »
Administered on the victim's ear, usually by an educator, to enforce attention.
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but seriously folks »
Directs attention to immediately preceding failed attempt at humor.
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but who's counting »
Used as a retort or comeback, often to deprecate oneself or another for excessive concern or attention to.
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carry on »
To act or behave; especially to act or behave so as to attract attention.
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catch someone's eye »
To capture someone's attention.
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check out »
Used to draw attention to something and stimulate excitement about it.
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come to »
To devote attention to in due course; to come around to.
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come up »
To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly; to come to attention, present itself.
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cry for help »
Acting out as a means of displaying a subconscious desire for attention or help.
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curry favor »
To seek to gain favor by flattery or attention.
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drama queen »
Who behaves and speaks in an overly dramatic manner so as to garner attention.
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fall through the cracks »
To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention.
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flag down »
Use a flag or some kind of signal to get the attention of someone.
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front and center »
A command to come to the center of attention of an assemblage, as of military personnel or students.
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give ear »
To listen: to devote one's attention to an auditory event.
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give heed »
Pay attention to.
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give the time of day »
To acknowledge somebody; to give somebody any respect or attention.
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go in one ear and out the other »
Failed to pay attention.
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go out the window »
To vanish or cease, especially due to lack of care, attention, etc.; to be discarded, disregarded, or ignored.
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golf widow »
A woman who is deprived of her husband's time and attention due to his regular absence in order to play golf.
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hang on »
To pay close attention.
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he who smelt it dealt it »
(colloquial, originally) A person who calls attention to or complains about a fart is likely trying to pretend it wasn't his or her own.(colloquial, by extension) Used to suggest that a person calling attention to or complaining about a given problem may in fact be the source of the problem.
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heads up »
Used as an informal warning, caution, or call for attention; pay attention!.
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heads-up »
A warning or call to pay attention; an advisory notice.
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hear the grass grow »
To be very aware or discerning; to pay attention to every small detail.
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here you are »
Said when you hand something over to someone or do a favour to them, usually to draw the recipient's attention to the exchange; Equivalent to “thank you” when receiving something..
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hold that thought »
Used to acknowledge that one's attention needs to be diverted from what an speaker was saying.
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in the hot seat »
Under pressure to perform; under scrutiny; at the center of attention.
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in the limelight »
In the focus of attention, especially from the media.
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keep a close watch on »
To pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems.
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keep a weather eye open »
To maintain a background awareness of something; to remain alert to changes without it occupying your full attention.
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keep an eye on »
To watch and pay attention to.
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kill the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
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kiss up »
To pay false flattery to another, particularly a superior at work, in order to get special attention.
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listen up »
To listen closely; to pay attention. Often used in the imperative.
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look off »
To mislead by directing one's apparent attention away from one's true object of intent.
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make a point »
To take care in doing something of something; to pay attention or ensure that something is done.
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make a splash »
To do something that attracts attention.
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make a stink »
To complain; to demand attention or remedy for a problem.
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mind you »
Used to draw attention to adjacent words.
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necker's knob »
A knob attached to the steering wheel of an automobile, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm and leaving the other arm free to provide romantic attention to a companion.
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off the radar »
Unlikely to happen, or be important in the near future or tending to escape detection or attention.
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on the back burner »
Not immediate; inactive; receiving less than full or regular attention.
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outshout »
To merit the most attention or praise.
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paint with a broad brush »
To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.
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pay attention »
To be attentive; to focus one's attention.
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physical break »
A short break in a meeting or in a classroom setting, intended to improve attention.
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play possum »
To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lay low.
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put aside »
To ignore or intentionally forget something, temporarily or permanently, so that more important things can have one's attention.
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put by »
To perform an action without attracting attention.
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raise a stink »
To complain; to demand attention or remedy for a problem.
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rattle someone's cage »
To demand attention; to nag, nudge, or remind.
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red herring »
A clue that is misleading or that has been falsified, intended to divert attention.
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rock the boat »
To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.
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rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
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run something by »
To bring an idea or proposal to the attention of someone in order to obtain their opinion.
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run something past »
To bring an idea or proposal to the attention of someone in order to obtain their opinion.
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shoot the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
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shuffle »
To get lost in the shuffle: to lack attention when you deserve it.
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slip through the cracks »
To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.
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space out »
To stupefy, intoxicate, disorient, or lose attention or focus, especially by the use of drugs.
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spit-and-polish »
Paying much attention to outward appearance.
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squeaky wheel gets the grease »
The person who complains or speaks up most loudly receives the redress or attention which he or she seeks.
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take for granted »
To give little attention to or to underestimate the value of, to fail to appreciate.
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take into account »
Or pay attention to; to notice.
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to a T »
Precisely; exactly; perfectly; with great attention to detail.
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tuits »
Virtual tokens for an amount of time or attention that a particular issue would need to resolve.
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tune in »
To pay attention.
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tune in, turn on, drop out »
Pay attention to the new way of living; take drugs; abandon the established ways.
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tune out »
To fail to pay attention to; to ignore.
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turn heads »
To garner a considerable amount of attention.
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up-and-coming »
Emerging; aspiring; improving; beginning to attract attention or critical acclaim.
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walls have ears »
There is a risk of being heard, so pay attention to what you say.
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work the room »
To interact with one's audience, taking queues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
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you know what »
A phrase used to get someone's attention before announcing something.
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zero in on »
To concentrate or focus one's attention on at task.
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zone out »
To stop paying attention and think about something else, or to think about nothing.
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