hacer caso omiso
verbCEFR B2
What does “hacer caso omiso” mean in English?
to disregard, to completely ignore
to disregard, to completely ignore (deliberate; hacer caso omiso de + noun; omiso only in this phrase)
Example sentences
El contratista hizo caso omiso de las advertencias del inspector y continuó con las obras.
The contractor completely disregarded the inspector's warnings and continued with the works.
No se puede hacer caso omiso de los datos cuando estos contradicen nuestra hipótesis.
One cannot simply disregard the data when it contradicts our hypothesis.
Hicieron caso omiso de todas las quejas presentadas durante meses.
They completely disregarded all the complaints submitted over months.
How to use it
Hacer caso omiso de means 'to disregard', 'to ignore completely', 'to take no notice of'. It is formal and implies deliberate, often wilful non-compliance or non-engagement. Construction: hacer caso omiso de + noun. The word omiso (past participle of omitir) is only used in this fixed phrase in modern Spanish. Contrast with ignorar (to ignore, more informal and direct), pasar por alto (may be accidental), and hacer la vista gorda (strategic overlooking with complicity).
Common mistake
Hacer caso omiso is stronger than pasar por alto (overlook) and implies deliberate disregard. The preposition is de: hacer caso omiso de algo. Don't confuse with hacer caso a (to listen to, to pay attention to) — the opposite meaning. The word omiso never appears alone in modern Spanish outside this phrase.