quizzical

/'kwizikəl/

Thân thiện

He gave her a quizzical look after hearing the strange riddle.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Showing mild or amused puzzlement: Expressing a state of being slightly confused, perplexed, or curious, often in a lighthearted or questioning way.
   • Teasing or mocking in a playful way: Having a character that is gently and humorously questioning or ridiculing.

Usage and Examples

• Showing mild or amused puzzlement:
  • She gave me a quizzical look when I mentioned the surprise.
  • His quizzical expression suggested he didn't quite understand the joke.
• Teasing or mocking in a playful way:
  • He raised a quizzical eyebrow at my outdated fashion choice.
  • There was a quizzical, almost impertinent, tone in her voice.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "quizzical smile/glance/look": A very common collocation describing a facial expression that conveys questioning amusement.
  • The teacher's quizzical glance made the student rethink his answer.
• Used to describe an attitude or atmosphere that is puzzling yet not hostile.
  • The documentary left viewers in a quizzical state about the final outcome.

Variants and Related Words

• Quizzically (adverb): In a quizzical manner.
  • He looked at me quizzically, waiting for an explanation.

Synonyms

• Quizzing (archaic adjective): Questioning.
• Inquisitive: Curious, questioning.
• Perplexed: Confused, puzzled.
• Mocking: Teasing, ridiculing (though "mocking" is often less playful than "quizzical").

Idioms and Phrases

• A quizzical air/manner: Describing a general demeanor of playful questioning or mild bewilderment.
  • She listened to the strange proposal with a quizzical air.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
   • he had a quizzical expression
2. playfully vexing (especially by ridicule)
   • his face wore a somewhat quizzical almost impertinent air- Lawrence Durrell

Từ đồng nghĩa

• questioning
• mocking
• teasing