stare down

Idioms

Cause someone to waver or give in by or as if by being stared at. For example, Insisting on a better room, he stared down the manager until he got it. This expression alludes to staring at someone without being the first to blink or lower one's gaze. [Mid-1800s]

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.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, staring down at my slightly blue-tinged fingers, which were more than a little numb from the freezing temperature of the simulation room.

From Literature

That means that Nvidia investors are staring down a “surprisingly good entry point,” Moore said, with shares trading at about 18 times estimated earnings for calendar 2027.

From MarketWatch

The affiliate was staring down an estimated $100 million shortfall, more than half its annual budget.

From The Wall Street Journal

At first, his balance steadied, but then, because Handsome was staring down at the moving river, it brought on a spell of dizziness that caused him to sway this way and that.

From Literature

I could feel Red looking at me, but I stared down at my pan.

From Literature

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