PhrasesHub

The hairy eyeball

    Definitions

      • to look at someone in a threatening or disapproving way
        To convey disapproval or a warning through a stern or menacing gaze

      • to intimidate or frighten someone
        To use a fierce or intimidating look to make someone feel scared or uneasy

    Examples of The hairy eyeball

    • The sales manager gave the new employee the hairy eyeball during the meeting as she kept dozing off, interrupting the flow of the presentation.

      The sales manager gave the new employee a disapproving and scrutinizing look, as if examining her closely because of her habit of falling asleep during the meeting, which was disruptive to the ongoing presentation. The phrase "hairy eyeball" here suggests a highly critical and judgmental look, similar to an animal's hairy gaze.

    • The sales director gave the marketing team the hairy eyeball during the presentation, indicating his disapproval with their ideas.

      The idiom "the hairy eyeball" refers to a suspicious or disapproving glance, especially one given by narrowing the eyes and slightly raising the eyebrows. In this example, the sales director's gaze conveyed his dissatisfaction with the marketing team's proposals, indicating that he was scrutinizing their ideas closely and may not be inclined to support them.

    • The salesperson gave the customer the hairy eyeball when he asked for a discount.

      This idiom is used to describe a disapproving and suspicious look that is given to someone. In this example, the salesperson gave the customer a look that was filled with skepticism and disapproval when he asked for a discount. It implies that the salesperson was thinking negatively about the customer's request.

    • The boss caught me eyeing her evaluation and gave me the hairy eyeball.

      This example shows that the idiom can also be used in more casual settings. Here, the speaker caught their boss's eye while they were looking at their evaluation, and their boss responded with a look of suspicion or disapproval.

    • The teacher rolled her eyes and gave the misbehaving student the hairy eyeball.

      In this example, the teacher displayed both verbal and nonverbal communication to show her disapproval of the student's misbehavior. Rolling her eyes and giving the student the hairy eyeball conveyed a strong message that the student's behavior was not tolerated.

    • My friend caught my friend's significant other staring at another person and gave them the hairy eyeball.

      In this final example, the speaker's friend caught their significant other staring at someone else and gave them a suspicious and disapproving look. This could be interpreted as a sign of jealousy or warning against potentially upsetting behavior.


    Conclusion

    "The hairy eyeball" is a phrase used to describe a look that conveys disapproval or intimidation. It can be used to warn someone or to make them feel uncomfortable through a stern or menacing gaze.

    Origin of "The hairy eyeball"

    The origin of the idiom "the hairy eyeball" is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the mid-20th century. The phrase is thought to have come from the idea that a fierce or intimidating look could be so intense that it could feel like it was covered in hair, hence the term "hairy eyeball." This idiom is often used in informal or colloquial language to describe a threatening or disapproving look. Its origins are rooted in the idea of using a powerful gaze to convey a message of warning or intimidation.