go-by

A car gives a slower truck the go-by on the highway.

Definition

1. Noun (singular, often used with "the"):
   • An act of disregarding or ignoring someone: "go-by" refers to a deliberate act of passing someone by without acknowledgment, or treating them as if they are not present.
   • A snub or slight: It can mean a deliberate lack of attention or courtesy toward a person.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She gave him the go-by at the party, refusing to even look in his direction. (She deliberately ignored him.)
  • After the argument, his colleagues gave him the go-by for weeks. (They avoided him and did not acknowledge his presence.)

Advanced Usage

• "to give someone the go-by": to deliberately ignore or snub someone.
  • He felt hurt when his old friend gave him the go-by in the street. (His friend passed by without greeting him.)
  • The manager gave the junior employee the go-by during the meeting, not inviting him to speak. (The manager disregarded the employee.)

Variants and Related Words

• Go-by is a fixed noun phrase; no common variants exist. It is not used as a verb or adjective.

Synonyms

• Snub: a deliberate act of ignoring or showing coldness toward someone.
• Slight: an insult or lack of respect, often shown by ignoring someone.
• Cold shoulder: an intentional act of unfriendliness or disregard.

Related Idioms

• Give someone the cold shoulder: to intentionally ignore or treat someone with indifference.

  • She gave him the cold shoulder after he broke his promise. (She ignored him as a form of punishment.)

• Pass over: to skip or disregard someone, often in a selection or recognition context.

  • He was passed over for promotion, which felt like a go-by. (He was ignored for advancement.)

Usage Note

The phrase "go-by" is somewhat dated in modern English and is most commonly encountered in literary or formal contexts. It is typically used with the verb "give" in the expression "to give someone the go-by." It is not used in everyday casual conversation.