👀 Look Daggers at, to 🗡️
Definition:
To give someone a fierce, piercing glare, as if one’s eyes are daggers.
Etymology:
First appeared in Greek literature by Aristophanes around 414 B.C. and famously alluded to several times by William Shakespeare. Also famously echoed in Macbeth: “There’s daggers in men’s smiles.” Thoreau and other literary giants have made use of its visceral image to convey sheer wrath or displeasure.
Synonyms:
Related Idioms:
- If looks could kill: They’ve been around since the early 1900s, encapsulating the same deadliness in a glance.
“When they let me up I looked at Jones, and if looks could kill, he would have had short shrift.” - Frank Harris, My Life and Loves (1922)
Humor-Filled Quote:
“They looked daggers at each other, though it’s rumored onions were the real culprit.” - Anonymous
Proverbs and Wisdom:
“The eyes are the windows to the soul… and, sometimes, the gateways to execution!”
Literary References:
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare
- The Birds by Aristophanes
- My Life and Loves by Frank Harris
Movie Recommendations:
- Mean Girls (2004) - For those impeccable high school glares.
- The Devil Wears Prada (2006) - Where every look feels like a dagger.
Songs:
- “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley - Perfect for getting in a glare-y mood.
Inspirational, Thought-Provoking Farewell:
“Remember, a glare may convey what words can’t, but it’s kindness that truly cuts through the toughest armors.”
### Which of the following captures the essence of "look daggers at"?
- [ ] Holding knives with your eyes
- [x] Glaring fiercely at someone
- [ ] Staring blankly
- [ ] Gazing lovingly
> **Explanation:** To "look daggers" is to glare fiercely at someone, hence the visual metaphor of daggers piercing through the gaze.
### Find the synonymous expression for "look daggers at":
- [ ] Whistle in the dark
- [ ] Walk on eggshells
- [ ] Paint the town red
- [x] If looks could kill
> **Explanation:** "If looks could kill" is synonymous with "look daggers at," sharing that same intense, deadly stare.
### True or False: Shakespeare uses the term "look daggers" in *Macbeth*.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. Shakespeare uses the imagery in *Macbeth* when suggesting the malicious intents hidden behind a facade.
### Which playwright first mentioned a concept similar to "look daggers at"?
- [x] Aristophanes
- [ ] Euripides
- [ ] Sophocles
- [ ] Aeschylus
> **Explanation:** Aristophanes first brought the deadly glare concept to light in *The Birds* around 414 B.C.
### In which song might you feel inspired to "look daggers at" someone who’s done you wrong?
- [x] “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley
- [ ] “Happy” by Pharrell Williams
- [ ] “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston
- [ ] “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
> **Explanation:** “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley, a perfect track for channeling those intense, dagger-like stares.
