Both Uses of
deflect
in
Running in the Family
- This did not impress them as he had hoped, while the great row which my grandfather had looked forward to for weeks and weeks was deflected by my father's useful habit of retreating into almost total silence, of never trying to justify any of his crimes, so that it was difficult to argue with him.†
p. 32.5deflected = turned aside from a fixed direction or line of interest
- On the ballroom floor she stood out in her animal or shell fish beauty but claws and caterpillar bulges tended to deflect suitors from thoughts of seduction.†
p. 118.7 *deflect = turn aside from a fixed direction or line of interest