# Eastwood

/ˈistˌwʊd/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/eastwood
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

to stare at someone with a very serious, tough, or angry look. It comes from the way the actor Clint Eastwood looks in his famous cowboy movies.

For teachers: to fix a person with a squinted, intimidating, or menacing gaze. Derived from the signature facial expression of actor Clint Eastwood; typically implies a performance of hyper-masculine toughness.

## Examples

- He tried to eastwood the bouncer, but it didn't work.
- The two rivals stood in the hallway, trying to eastwood each other until a teacher walked by.
- Rather than engaging in a verbal argument, he chose to simply eastwood his opponent across the boardroom table, hoping his silent intensity would force a concession.

## Usage notes

- Transitive verb; often used in casual or humorous contexts to describe a specific type of tough-guy posturing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.