look down on

Idioms  

1. Also, look down one's nose at. Regard with contempt or condescension, consider oneself superior to. For example, When it comes to baking, Beth is a purist—she looks down on anyone who uses a mix, or Seniors have a way of looking down their noses at juniors. The first expression dates from about 1700, the second from about 1900.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

look down on

Why do wealthy retirees look down on those with less savings?

From MarketWatch ● May 20, 2026

Those who wince at the idea of a blue-collar career change don’t necessarily look down on people who work with their hands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026

The Romans look down on him, even as he does their bidding.

From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2025

The UK's never going to attract world-class talent if all we do is look down on the contest and approach it with a defeatist attitude.

From BBC ● May 17, 2025

Standing on Copp’s Hill—the highest point in the North End neighborhood—one could look down on hectic streets where hundreds of people wended their way with pushcarts and horse-drawn wagons.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler