staring contest
Eyeball endurance game
A staring contest is a game in which two people lock eyes and try to outlast each other without blinking or looking away.
The first to blink or break eye contact loses.
Children play it as a simple competition, but the phrase extends to any tense standoff where neither side will back down: The union and management were locked in a staring contest over wages.
- staredownUnblinking confrontation
- locked eyesSustained mutual staring
- eye contactDirect visual connection
- unblinkingNot closing one's eyes
- gazeFixed, intent look
holding gaze · eye to eye · blinking first · opponents · focus · childhood games · challenge · power move · gay chicken · intensity · poker face · endurance · icebreakers · humor · self-control · eyes · confrontation · duels
- staring gamesblink first
- fun conteststalent show, dance off, spelling bee, trivia night, beauty pageant
- raceshorse race, Kentucky Derby, foot race, Preakness Stakes, car race
- risky activitiesRussian roulette, chicken, cliff diving, bull riding, bungee jumping
- mock combatsparring, war games, paintball, laser tag, airsoft
staring contestlooking away
Directing eyes elsewhere
averting eyes · blinking · eye contact avoidance · closing one's eyes · glancing away
staring contestgroup hug
Multi-person simultaneous embrace
cooperative game · trust fall · conversation · handshake · friendly wave
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