stare down
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To look at someone for so long and so hard that they look away first, or to bravely face a scary situation.
Literal meaning: To look steadily downward at someone from a position of visual dominance.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To look at someone with an unblinking, intense gaze until they look away, signalling dominance.
"The two wrestlers stared each other down before the match began."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To confront a frightening situation or opponent without flinching.
"The young entrepreneur had to stare down several serious crises in her company's first year."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Primarily American English. Both the literal (gazing contest) and figurative (confronting a threat) senses are in active use. 'Stare down' as a noun (e.g., 'a tense stare-down') is also common.
Commonly used with
opponent threat fear rival challenge danger
Forms
Base
stare down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stares down
he/she/it
Past simple
stared down
yesterday
Past participle
stared down
have + pp
-ing form
staring down
continuous
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Synonyms
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