Dictionary

look daggers en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌlʊk ˈdæɡɚz/ (General-American)
• /ˌlʊk ˈdæɡəz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

An allusion to a look being so fierce as to be able to injure the person looked at like a dagger.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) Often followed by at: to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner, especially without speaking.
   • Even before a waitress came up, two hostesses approached and looked daggers at Suzy and Teresa, both of whom glared back. 1986, Stephen Coonts, chapter 9, in Flight of the Intruder, Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, →ISBN, page 116:
   • Both employers looked daggers at Kit, for the insult rankled; […] 1912 October, Jack London, “The Meat”, in Smoke Bellew, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co, →OCLC, page 43:
   • Before him set the grim baron, with a face worthy of the father of such a daughter, and looking daggers and rat's bane. 1835, [Washington Irving], “Abbotsford”, in Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey (The Crayon Miscellany; no. 2), Philadelphia, Pa.: [Henry Charles] Carey, [Isaac] Lea, & Blanchard, →OCLC, pages 40–41:

Forms

Relateds

evil eye · if looks could kill · dirty look

Synonyms

shoot daggers · glare daggers · stare daggers

Translations (17)

fr lancer un regard noir (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · pt fulminar com o olhar (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · ja 目を三角にする (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · ca fulminar amb l'esguard (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · fr foudroyer du regard (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · pt olhar atravessado (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · ko 쏘아보다 (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · es fulminar con la mirada (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · fi katsoa vihamielisesti (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · fr fusiller du regard (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · pt olhar feio (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · fi mulkoilla (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · it guardare torvo (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · ko 노려보다 (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · fr darder un regard noir (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · fr se regarder en chiens de faïence (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner) · it guardare in cagnesco (to stare in a disapproving, severe, or threatening manner)