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.

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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

From the front, 108 windows that might remind you of Austin Powers look down on you.

From BBC ● Jan. 4, 2025

Archie’s inclination is to look down on everyone else; Laszlo’s first reaction is always curiosity.

From Salon ● Nov. 11, 2024

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