look daggers

1. Glare, stare fiercely, as in When she started to discuss their finances, he looked daggers at her. This metaphoric term, likening an angry expression to a dagger's thrust, dates from ancient times and has appeared in English since about 1600.

Example Sentences

For myself, having acquired only polite French, I can but "look daggers" when I am abused.

From Project Gutenberg

But the flock never stopped—on it went, and all that the goody and the man did was to look daggers at the smith for making game of them.

From Project Gutenberg

"Why should it not be discussed?" cried Roland, looking—if people can look daggers—a perfect arsenal of rage and scorn at his cousin.

From Project Gutenberg

It is no wonder then that she looked worn out, or that the baby, who had been so jolly and happy as to be voted a remarkably fine child by all the passengers, should have sunk into an exhausted sleep, after a prolonged fit of screaming and crying, that caused the few remaining inmates of the car to look daggers at it, and say many unkind things, some of which even reached the ears of the mother.

From Project Gutenberg

She could only look daggers at him, with occasionally an expression of staring wonder at a nonchalance that disproved twenty years of authority.

From Project Gutenberg

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