QUICK ANSWER
"Look forward" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "mirar hacia el futuro", and "look back" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "mirar atrás". Learn more about the difference between "look forward" and "look back" below.
look forward(
look
for
-
wuhrd
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. mirar hacia el futuro
There is no point dwelling on the past. We can only look forward now.No vale la pena pensar demasiado en el pasado. Solo podemos mirar hacia el futuro.
look back(
look
bahk
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
b. mirar hacia atrás
I ran as fast as I could and didn't look back till I'd locked the garden gate behind me.Corrí tan rápido como pude y no miré hacia atrás hasta que hube cerrado con llave la puerta del jardín.
a. devolver la mirada
I opened the door of the shed, looked in and was surprised to see two brown eyes looking back at me.Abrí la puerta del cobertizo, eché una mirada adentro y me quedé sorprendida al ver dos ojos marrones que me devolvían la mirada.
b. mirar atrás
When I look back, I realize how naive I was.Cuando miro atrás, me doy cuenta de lo ingenuo que era.
c. mirar hacia atrás
There's no point looking back; you can't change what's happened.De nada sirve mirar hacia atrás; es imposible cambiar lo ocurrido.
d. volver al pasado
It's pointless looking back; what's done is done.No vale la pena volver al pasado; lo hecho hecho está.
e. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Looking back, I wish I'd realized how lucky I was to be married to Martin.Pensándolo ahora, ojalá me hubiera dado cuenta de lo afortunada que era de estar casada con Martin.
When I look back, I wonder how I never realized what Richard meant.Cuando pienso en aquellos días, me pregunto cómo puede ser que no entendiera lo que insinuaba Richard.
a. recordar
I look back on that time at the farm with great affection.Recuerdo aquel tiempo en la granja con mucho cariño.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Ten years ago, Daisy got a job designing fabrics, and she's never looked back since.Hace diez años, Daisy encontró un trabajo diseñando telas, y desde ese día las cosas le han ido muy bien.
When Emily came out of prison, she enrolled on a horticultural course and hasn't looked back.Cuando salió de la cárcel, Emily se matriculó en un curso de horticultura y desde entonces todo le ha ido sobre ruedas.
