wink at

verb

1. intr, preposition to connive at; disregard

   the authorities winked at corruption

Idioms and Phrases

Deliberately overlook, pretend not to see, as in Sometimes it's wise to wink at a friend's shortcomings . This idiom, first recorded in 1537, uses wink in the sense of “close one's eyes.”

Related Words

• acquit
• condone
• defend
• exempt
• exonerate
• explain
• forgive
• indulge
• let go
• pardon
• relieve
• spare
• tolerate