stares down
Wins eye contact
To stare down is to meet someone's gaze and hold it until they look away—a dominance display.
The one who breaks eye contact first loses.
By extension, to stare down a challenge or threat is to face it unflinchingly until it subsides: She stared down her critics and refused to apologize.
The two dogs stared each other down until one backed off.
- outstareDefeat by not blinking
- intimidateInstill fear to control
- death glareIntensely hostile stare
- confrontFace squarely, address directly
- eye contactDirect visual connection
locked eyes · intensity · unflinching · undaunted · nerves of steel · challenge · glare · defy · fearlessness · face off · defiance · glower · showdown · wild west · alpha · top dog · power move · eyes