Avoid looking at someone

[Mr. Tom 1]

Hello everyone,

Which of the following is more natural / better?

1. Why did you avoid looking at me at the party last night
2. Why did you avoid eye-contact with me at the party last night?

Could you please enlighten me?

Best regards,

Tom

Comment on moderator actions deleted. Tegs, moderator

 

[Tegs]

Hello Tom,

These sentences mean different things. It is hard to tell which might be better in the context you need to use it in, since we have no information about that context.

Please explain what the context is. What exactly did the person do in the party? Can you explain in other words?

 

[Mr. Tom 1]

Thank you, Tegs.

(Context)

The speaker is upset. He and his friend were there at the same party, at the same table, seated slightly away from each other. Every time their eyes met, she would look in the other direction.

Which of the following is more natural / better?

1. Why did you avoid looking at me at the party last night
2. Why did you avoid eye-contact (with me) at the party last night?

Tom

 

[Myridon]

If she has to look the other way whenever you look at her, she must be looking at you quite often. In other words, your eyes can't meet if she isn't looking at you.

 

[Tegs]

Of the two, the one that best describes that context, given that the speaker knows she looked at him, is 2. What she was doing was trying to avoid eye contact.