look daggers

look daggers at (one)

To glare at someone very angrily, spitefully, or disdainfully. I noticed the bride looking daggers at the best man as he started making vulgar jokes during his speech.
See also: dagger, look
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

look daggers

Glare, stare fiercely, as in When she started to discuss their finances, he looked daggers at her. This metaphoric term, likening an angry expression to a dagger's thrust, dates from ancient times and has appeared in English since about 1600.
See also: dagger, look
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • look daggers at
  • look daggers at (one)
  • look daggers at somebody
  • look daggers at someone
  • shoot daggers at (one)
  • spit in (one's) eye
  • spit in someone's eye
  • spit in the eye of
  • spit in the eye of (someone)
  • drawn
References in classic literature
You might look daggers at him for an hour and he would not notice it, and it would not trouble him if he did.
Three Men In A Boat
The details of life without sound are amusing (viewers looking for a quirkier take on a similar gimmick are directed to Guy Maddin's outlandish Careful , from 1992), especially when the teenage daughter clearly longs to launch into a whiny tantrum but can only pout and look daggers at her mum -- but the action gets a bit frenetic, the suspense piled on with a trowel.
Film review: A Quiet Place ***, The Hurricane Heist **
YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS WEE THINKER ACROSS: 7 Blossom 9 Heave 10 Ember 11 Larches 12 She 13 Raindrop 16 Hot pants 17 Emu 19 Marconi 21 Maple 22 Tunic 23 Elation DOWN: 1 Obverse 2 Sombrero 3 User 4 Charades 5 Lash 6 Cease 8 Millionaire 13 Reproach 14 Overpaid 15 Lucerne 18 Emits 20 Reno 21 Mead QUICKIE ACROSS: 1 Forget-me-not 8 Ran 9 Bob 11 Oil lamp 12 Arena 13 Try 14 Yet 15 Tutored 17 Rut 19 Yarn 21 Owls 23 Teen 25 Came 27 Tea 29 Escaped 31 Ore 34 Pro 36 Sauce 37 Edition 38 Sir 39 Ewe 40 Look daggers DOWN: 1 Fair 2 Only 3 Gradual 4 Top dog 5 Erase 6 Obey 7 Tone 8 Rotor 10 Baton 16 Dye 18 Tom 20 Ant 22Wee 24 Evening 25 Cross 26 Camera 28 Alone 30 Speak 32 Rail 33 Euro 34 Pier 35 Rows
PS200 Xword
Because she has the appearance of someone who is not disabled, people passing by when we get out of the car often look daggers at us.
MIRROR M@ILBOX: NOT SPACE INVADERS
"He also started laughing and joking with Koo and that really made Fergie look daggers.
FERGIE'S AMAZING TANTRUM AS ANDY CHATS UP BEAUTIES; Stunned celebrities witness astonishing royal bust-up - Jealous Duchess storms off in huff at Palace
At the moment only He knows, but soon the minister will, too, and from his pulpit he'll be able to look daggers at those who refuse to give.
James Traynor: Bible bash tightwads