stare down

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]

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Example Sentences

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In almost every room as portraits of Miss Pickford staring down from the walls—at stages of her life from 18 to 59.

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Playing an unnamed surfer stuck high and dry atop a parched parking lot, Cage stares down at the waves below with the thirst of a battered cartoon coyote.

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Now, they were staring down a second designated bullpen game already in this opening month.

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Yet, even as he stares down the barrel of a gun, he harbors the delusional hope that he can puppeteer this relationship back to life.

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Her Coachella set stared down repugnance and pushed against it, radiating so brightly it consumed the darkness, if only for a night.

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stare decisis stare in the face

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