stare down

stare  (stâr)

v. stared, star·ing, stares

v.intr.

1. To look directly and fixedly, often with a wide-eyed gaze. See Synonyms at gaze.

2. To be conspicuous; stand out.

3. To stand on end; bristle, as hair or feathers.

v.tr.

To look at directly and fixedly: stared him in the eyes.

n.

An intent gaze.

Phrasal Verb:

stare down

To cause to waver or give in by or as if by staring.

Idiom:

stare (one) in the face

1. To be plainly visible or obvious; force itself on (one's) attention: The money on the table was staring her in the face.

2. To be obvious though initially overlooked: The explanation had been staring him in the face all along.

3. To be imminent or unavoidable: Bankruptcy now stares us in the face.

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[Middle English staren, from Old English starian; see ster-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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starer n.

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

stare down - overcome or cause to waver or submit by (or as if by) staring; "He simply stared down his opponent" outface, outstare gaze, stare - look at with fixed eyes; "The students stared at the teacher with amazement"