görmezden

Görmezden is a Turkish particle that appears in the idiomatic expression görmezden gelmek, meaning to deliberately ignore or overlook something, to pretend not to see. It is used when someone refuses to acknowledge a fact, complaint, or problem and chooses inaction over engagement.

The word görmezden comes from the verb görmek (to see) with the negative suffix -mez and the postposition -den, forming an adverbial phrase that literally means “from not seeing.” The complete idiom görmezden gelmek is a fixed verbal construction: the subject performs the act of ignoring, often implying intentionality or blame.

In usage, görmezden gelmek appears in formal and informal Turkish to describe avoidance or neglect in response to a circumstance. Examples include: “Yetkili, hatayı görmezden geldi” (The official ignored the mistake), and “Toplumsal sorunları görmezden gelmek sorunları büyütür.” The expression is commonly translated into English as turn a blind eye or overlook on purpose.

Grammatically, the base form is görmezden gelmek, and it can be conjugated to reflect tense and aspect: görmezden geliyordu, görmezden gelecekti, görmezden gelin (imperative), etc. The object of what is ignored can be stated directly or understood from context.

Related expressions include göz ardı etmek (to disregard, to overlook) and göz yummak (to wink at / to turn a blind eye in a less explicit sense). Görmezden gelmek carries a connotation of intentional inaction or moral criticism when used about important issues.