Meaning of navel-gazing | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The contemplation of one's navel as an aid to meditation.
   countable, uncountable
2. An excessive focus on oneself; self-indulgent introspection.
   countable, derogatory, uncountable
3. A (disproportionate) concentration on a single issue.
   countable, derogatory, sometimes, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Forget⟳ incense and the lotus position, forget⟳ notions of "getting rid⟳ of thoughts" or "navel gazing," meditation is, more broadly and more helpfully for most people, getting to know⟳ our minds and hearts.”

“To whom, except to the author, could these narcissistic navel-gazings be of interest⟳?”

“I believe⟳ that the Opposition, devoid of any argument of any weight in the debate⟳, determined to have⟳ Parliament engage⟳ in a trivial navel-gazing exercise regarding who said what to whom, rather than to focus⟳ on the issue⟳ of whether or not members accept⟳ the sworn evidence of an honourable member of the House.”

“[Alvin Ward] Gouldner goes further in his reply⟳ to his critics (1974), who predictably accused him of (advocating) narcissicism, pathological navel-gazing, egoistic subjectivism and the rest⟳. In response, he writes: “The ridicule of ‘navel-gazing’ expresses an uneasiness with all efforts at self-knowing and self-reflection. It is false consciousness’s effort to protect⟳ itself from change⟳” (1973:124).”

“There is a final, internal aesthetic twist⟳ to these navel-gazings: translation is an enjoyable occupation.”

“In spite of efforts by the government to focus⟳ public attention on the economy and to turn⟳ Canadians away from constitutional navel gazing to the outward challenges of the global economy, it was the election of Bill Clinton to the American presidency that set⟳ the mood for political change⟳ at home.”

CEFR level