Cool MateIgnore vs Turn your back
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ignore
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Turn your back
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Ignore
| Ignore | Turn your back | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪɡˈnɔː//🇺🇸 //ɪɡˈnɔːr// | 🇬🇧 //tɜːn jɔːr bæk//🇺🇸 //tɜrn jʊr bæk// |
| Meaning | To pay no attention to something. | To ignore someone or something by facing the opposite direction. |
| Example | She chose to ignore the rude comments from her classmates. | She felt hurt when he chose to turn his back on her during the argument. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | ignore a call, ignore the rules, ignore the warning | turn your back on a friend, turn away and ignore, turn back during conflicts |
| Antonyms | acknowledge, pay attention, notice | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'neglect' - ignoring implies a choice, neglecting may imply carelessness., Misused in passive forms - typically, ignore is active., Incorrect tense forms - ensure correct past or continuous forms. | Confusing with 'turn away' which can imply physically leaving or distancing oneself., Using it in a literal sense too often when it’s mostly figurative., Incorrectly placing the object, e.g., saying 'turn back your back'. |
| Usage notes | Used in everyday conversation and writing. It is neutral; avoid in formal contexts where precise attention is needed. | Commonly used in everyday conversation. Avoid in very formal writing. Suitable in emotional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Ignore vs Turn your back
What's the difference between Ignore and Turn your back?
Ignore: To pay no attention to something. Turn your back: To ignore someone or something by facing the opposite direction.
Which is more common: Ignore and Turn your back?
Ignore is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Ignore: She chose to ignore the rude comments from her classmates. Turn your back: She felt hurt when he chose to turn his back on her during the argument.
Can I use Ignore and Turn your back interchangeably?
Not always. Ignore and Turn your back are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.