steely-eyed en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈstiliˌaɪd/ (General-American)
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈstiːliˌaɪd/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From steely + eyed.
Meanings
- (idiomatic) Having a hard, strong, and determined look about oneself.
-
(idiomatic) Having a hard, strong, and determined mentality or mindset.
Her steely-eyed control of emotion has become such a reliable source of strength and enjoyment in the last two seasons, it's genuinely moving to see her defenses fall in the face of long-lost friends and family.
2019 April 14, Alex McLevy, “Winter is Here on Game of Thrones’ Final Season Premiere (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 18 Dec 2020:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more steely-eyed | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most steely-eyed | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
clear-eyed · sharp-eyed · bright-eyed
Synonyms
hardcore · steely-spined · steely-nerved · diehard · flint-eyed · tough as nails