stare down

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stare down

He tried to stare down his opponent across the chessboard.

Definition

Verb (transitive) To overcome, intimidate, or cause someone to waver or submit by looking at them with a fixed, intense, and often aggressive gaze. It implies a contest of wills or dominance conveyed through an unwavering stare.

Usage

The verb "stare down" is used to describe the act of using a prolonged, forceful stare to assert dominance, challenge, or make another person look away or back down. It often describes a non-verbal confrontation.

Examples
  • The security guard stared down the suspicious individual until he left the premises.
  • In the tense meeting, she stared down her critic without saying a word.
  • The wolf attempted to stare down its rival to establish dominance without a fight.
Advanced Usage
  • To stare someone/something down: This is the standard phrasal verb construction.
    • The experienced debater knew how to stare down an aggressive interviewer.
  • Can be used in passive constructions, though less common.
    • The protestor refused to be stared down by the authorities.
Variants and Related Words
  • Stare-down (noun): A confrontation or contest in which each party tries to outstare the other.
    • The negotiation began with a tense stare-down across the table.
Synonyms
  • Outface: To confront boldly or defiantly.
  • Outstare: To stare back at someone until they look away.
  • Glare down: To stare angrily and fixedly at someone.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Idioms
  • Stare out: Similar to "stare down," often used in British English.
    • He tried to stare her out, but she didn't blink.
stare down

He tried to stare down his opponent across the chessboard.

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

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