# stare down

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stare-down
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to look directly at someone for a long time until they look away or stop being brave.

For teachers: to intimidate or defeat an opponent by maintaining steady, unblinking eye contact until they yield. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the person or challenge being confronted.

## Examples

- The boxer tried to stare down his opponent before the fight.
- She had to stare down her fear of public speaking to give the presentation successfully.
- The seasoned diplomat managed to stare down the aggressive demands of the opposing delegation without blinking or offering a single concession.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He stared down to the ground." but "He stared down his rival." — the phrase requires a direct object that is being intimidated, rather than a direction of sight.

## Usage notes

- usually takes a person as the object, but can be used figuratively with abstract nouns like 'fear' or 'danger'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'stare at' (neutral observation); 'stare down' implies a power struggle or a test of wills.

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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.