A teacher may use it when she walks into a room where the students are playing and talking, instead of studying.

VOA: special.2009.01.11

The expression probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face-to-face.

VOA: special.2009.12.13

The leaders agreed to make the G20 the main group for their international economic cooperation, instead of the G8.

VOA: special.2009.09.26

Play it by ear also means to decide what to do at the last minute instead of making detailed plans.

VOA: special.2009.09.13

So, when the people of the North expected a speech of victory, he gave them a speech of reconstruction, instead.

VOA: special.2009.12.31

And President Lincoln sent thousands of troops to chase Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley, instead of helping McClellan at Richmond.

VOA: special.2009.09.17

Now,airlines will have to check the no-fly list within two hours of being told of additions, instead of twenty-four hours.

VOA: special.2010.05.08

But he agrees that in recent years, many companies have tied pay to short-term performance, instead of their long-term health.

VOA: special.2009.10.30

Some people have a fifteen- or twenty-year loan, often with an adjustable interest rate instead of a rate that never changes.

VOA: special.2011.01.24

The government wants forty-six creditors to accept two billion dollars instead of the seven billion dollars the company owes.

VOA: special.2009.05.01

The study is said to be the first to examine in detail measurements of bone strength instead of bone density.

VOA: special.2009.03.10

Nothing unusual there. But instead of being sad or tense about the snow, they write a song about it.

VOA: special.2009.01.26

Some of the writers of the Harlem Renaissance criticized her for writing about black culture instead of relations between the races.

VOA: special.2009.02.22

Gemini's flight director decided to reduce the use of power on the spacecraft, instead of ending the flight early.

VOA: special.2009.06.24