outstare

/aut'steə/

Thân thiện

He tried to outstare his opponent across the chessboard.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To overcome someone or cause them to waver or submit by staring at them for a longer time or with greater intensity.
   • To stare at someone until they become uncomfortable, look away, or yield.

Usage

• The verb "outstare" describes a deliberate act of using a prolonged, steady, and often challenging gaze to gain a psychological advantage over another person. It implies a contest of wills expressed through eye contact.
• It is a transitive verb, typically followed by a direct object (the person being stared down).
• It is often used in contexts of confrontation, competition, or establishing dominance.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The seasoned negotiator managed to outstare his younger counterpart across the table.
  • In the playground challenge, the two boys tried to outstare each other.
  • She refused to look away, determined to outstare her critic.

Advanced Usage

• "to stare down": This is a common phrasal verb synonym for "outstare." It emphasizes the act of making someone look away through staring.
  • He tried to stare down his opponent during the debate.
• The concept can be used metaphorically to describe overcoming a non-human challenge with unwavering resolve.
  • The captain had to outstare the storm, refusing to change course.

Variants and Related Words

• Stare (verb): To look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something with one's eyes wide open.
• Glare (verb): To stare in an angry or fierce way.
• Gaze (verb): To look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought. (Less confrontational than "outstare").

Synonyms

• Stare down: To cause someone to look away by staring at them.
• Outface: To confront someone boldly or without showing fear.
• Look down: (In this specific context) To overcome by looking.

Phrasal Verbs

• Stare down: (As mentioned above) A direct synonym for "outstare."
  • The security guard stared down the suspicious individual until he left the premises.

Related Idioms

• To not bat an eye: To show no surprise, fear, or concern. This is the state one aims for when trying to outstare someone.
  • She didn't bat an eye during the entire confrontation, successfully outstaring her accuser.
• A staring contest: A game or challenge where two people try to outstare each other; the first to blink or look away loses.
  • Their argument turned into a childish staring contest.

Học thuật

Verb

1. overcome or cause to waver or submit by (or as if by) staring
   • He simply stared down his opponent

Từ đồng nghĩa

• stare down
• outface