turning one's back

Verb

turn one's back (third-person singular simple present turns one's back, present participle turning one's back, simple past and past participle turned one's back)

1. (intransitive) To cease paying attention.
   • As soon as I turned my back, he started writing on the wall.
2. (figuratively, intransitive) To forsake, to abandon; to ignore.
   • He got off to a strong start, only to turn his back on the project two months later.
3. (intransitive) To turn away, as when fleeing or in contempt.