lose sight of

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Verb phrase:
    • To cease to see; to no longer have in one's field of vision: The literal meaning of physically losing visual contact with something or someone.
    • To fail to consider; to forget or overlook (an important fact, goal, or principle): The figurative meaning of neglecting or becoming distracted from something essential.
Usage
  • The phrase is used to describe both a physical and a metaphorical situation.
  • It often implies a gradual or unintentional process of separation from the object, either visually or mentally.
  • Common structures: "lose sight of [object]" or "lose sight of the fact that..."
Examples
  • Literal (Physical Vision):
    • We lost sight of the lighthouse as the fog rolled in.
    • I lost sight of my friend in the crowded market.
  • Figurative (Mental Focus):
    • In our pursuit of profit, we must not lose sight of our core values.
    • He was so focused on details that he lost sight of the overall goal.
Advanced Usage
  • "to have lost sight of": Used in perfect tenses to emphasize the ongoing consequence of the loss.
    • They have completely lost sight of why they started this project in the first place.
  • Often used in negative imperatives or warnings to emphasize importance.
    • Let's not lose sight of the main objective here.
Variants and Related Words
  • Overlook (verb): To fail to notice or consider.
  • Neglect (verb): To fail to care for or give proper attention to.
  • Forget (verb): To fail to remember.
Synonyms
  • Lose track of: To cease to follow or monitor the progress or location of.
  • Become distracted from: To have one's attention diverted away from something.
  • Overlook: To fail to see, notice, or consider.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions
  • Lose contact with: To cease communication or connection with someone.
  • Lose track of: Similar to "lose sight of," but can apply more broadly to information, time, or objects, not just vision.
    • I've lost track of how many times I've seen that movie. (Here, "lose sight of" would not be appropriate.)
Related Idioms
  • Can't see the forest for the trees: To be too focused on small details to see the overall situation. This is a specific case of "losing sight of" the big picture.
  • Out of sight, out of mind: The idea that things that are not visible are soon forgotten. This relates to the consequence of literally losing sight of something.
Verb
  1. be no longer able to see
    • We lost sight of the tower as pulled out of the harbor