look daggers

Idioms  

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.

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Example Sentences

But if one tears a lace flounce, you know, they look daggers.

From Vixen, Volume I. by Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)

They look daggers at me if I put my head into the schoolroom.'

From The Two Sides of the Shield by Yonge, Charlotte Mary

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 Tales from the Fjeld A Second Series of Popular Tales by Asbj?rnsen, P. Chr.

Enyhow, I know ye've got to come to city ways when ye're to the city; folks kinder look daggers at ye ef ye don't.

From Uncle Rutherford's Nieces A Story for Girls by Mathews, Joanna H. (Joanna Hooe)

Mrs. Barr, on this, ceased to look daggers and substituted icicles; but on the hateful beauty moving away, dropped the icicles, and resumed the poniards.

From A Simpleton by Reade, Charles

Related Words

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• boil over
• erupt
• rampage
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• tear