side-eye

American

[sahyd-ahy] / ˈsaɪdˌaɪ /

Also sideeye or side eye

noun

a sidelong look used to express contempt, criticism, suspicion, curiosity, or doubt.

Family holidays—the perfect time to face intrusive questions and the side-eye your great-aunt gives you at the dinner table.
I don't want to eat at a restaurant where we'll be getting the side-eye all night for having a baby in tow.

verb (used with or without object)

to express contempt, criticism, suspicion, curiosity, or doubt with or as if with a sidelong look.

Two things make me side-eye this story: the improbable plot and the unbelievable ending.
Don't side-eye just yet, let me explain.

Etymology

Origin of side-eye

First recorded in 1825–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When Punch drags his stuffy around the enclosure, you can see some of the older monkeys giving him the side-eye — he is definitely the odd kid in the class, the one who always wore a space helmet or insisted she was a kitten.

From Los Angeles Times

Carmen gives them the side-eye and they stop.

From Literature

“Uh-huh,” said George, giving him side-eye.

From Literature

She walks up to Leo, gives me a flash of side-eye.

From Literature

Tom Daley's side-eye, Celie Imrie's noisy digestive system, Paloma Faith's early murder, Kate Garraway's theatrics, Joe Marler's "big dog" theory and Jonathan Ross's rousing exit speech all contributed to a memorable series.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023