divert/distract attention
idiom
: to try to keep people from noticing or thinking about something
He was trying to divert/distract attention away from his friend's mistake.
Examples of divert/distract attention in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Advocates for the homeless describe the rulings from Boise and Grants Pass as narrow and limited, and say their impact has been exaggerated by cities seeking to divert attention from their own failings.
—
David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Many of the people pointing to cloud seeding are also climate change deniers who are trying to divert attention from what’s really happening, Mann and other scientists said.
—Brittany Peterson, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2024
The florid accusations against Ukraine and the West — combined with authorities’ public flaunting of ferocious retaliation such as cutting off part of one suspect’s ear — are probably calculated to divert attention from intelligence lapses that led to the attack, longtime Russia watchers said.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The government’s media machine seized on the ULEZ narrative, taking the opportunity to divert attention from its rolling omnishambles.
—Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
According to The Sun, Middleton may return to public duties in mid-April after her children’s Easter school holidays, a move that should — should — throw an immediate bucket of cold water over much of the fiery online speculation and divert attention elsewhere.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
Ad hominim – attacking the person (not the issue) in order to divert attention to another topic and not deal with the original one.
—Christine Comaford, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Though 2024 is an election year, which can divert attention to more headline-grabbing issues, my hope is the optimal care of cancer patients remains one that can garner grassroots enthusiasm and bipartisan support.
—Samyukta Mullangi, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
Ahead of Harris’ visit, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said in a call with reporters that the vice president was in Wisconsin to divert attention from the economy, inflation and the U.S.-Mexico border.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024
David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Many of the people pointing to cloud seeding are also climate change deniers who are trying to divert attention from what’s really happening, Mann and other scientists said.
—Brittany Peterson, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2024
The florid accusations against Ukraine and the West — combined with authorities’ public flaunting of ferocious retaliation such as cutting off part of one suspect’s ear — are probably calculated to divert attention from intelligence lapses that led to the attack, longtime Russia watchers said.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
The government’s media machine seized on the ULEZ narrative, taking the opportunity to divert attention from its rolling omnishambles.
—Peter Guest, WIRED, 26 Mar. 2024
According to The Sun, Middleton may return to public duties in mid-April after her children’s Easter school holidays, a move that should — should — throw an immediate bucket of cold water over much of the fiery online speculation and divert attention elsewhere.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
Ad hominim – attacking the person (not the issue) in order to divert attention to another topic and not deal with the original one.
—Christine Comaford, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Though 2024 is an election year, which can divert attention to more headline-grabbing issues, my hope is the optimal care of cancer patients remains one that can garner grassroots enthusiasm and bipartisan support.
—Samyukta Mullangi, STAT, 1 Mar. 2024
Ahead of Harris’ visit, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said in a call with reporters that the vice president was in Wisconsin to divert attention from the economy, inflation and the U.S.-Mexico border.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'divert/distract attention.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Divert/distract attention.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divert%2Fdistract%20attention. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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