squinting modifier

noun

Grammar.

1. a word or phrase that can modify either the words that precede it or those that follow, as frequently in the sentence Studying frequently is tedious.

Example Sentences

“With the gun” here is what’s known as a misplaced or “squinting” modifier.

From Washington Post

A squinting modifier modifies two things at once: “Cycling up hills quickly tones your thighs.”

From The Guardian