stare down

Idioms  

1. Cause someone to waver or give in by or as if by being stared at. For example, Insisting on a better room, he stared down the manager until he got it. This expression alludes to staring at someone without being the first to blink or lower one's gaze. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

Opener Zak Crawley said the mood in the England dressing room was "flat" Saturday as they stared down the barrel of losing the Ashes within three Tests, admitting Australia were the better side.

From Barron's

Ben Stokes's men will have to produce something extra special as they stare down the barrel of a 435-run target for victory.

From Barron's

Some are rebuilding, while others are staring down the monumental task of doing so.

From Los Angeles Times

If Grace was staring down her holiday meal with equal parts courage and bewilderment, surely others were too.

From Salon

The chip CEO staring down Nvidia and talk of an AI bubble.

From MarketWatch