a suspicious glance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a suspicious glance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a look that indicates doubt or mistrust towards someone or something. Example: "She gave him a suspicious glance when he arrived late to the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

So after considerable thought, and a suspicious glance to his right, Hamman decided to assume that Lowenthal had made a normal play with a singleton club king rather than a brilliant false card from a king-jack doubleton.

The New York Times - Arts

As I covered the stack of wood with the blue plastic, as a parent would tuck in a small child, I found myself casting a suspicious glance over my paranoid shoulder and whispering, "My precious," like the delirious Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings".

The New York Times

I try to disguise my excitement from my teacher, who casts me a suspicious glance, probably thinking I'm excited because class is over.

Huffington Post

"I suppose it's necessary to show both sides of our late leader," conceded 63-year-old pensioner Lyudmila Tarakanova, casting a suspicious glance at the secret protocols she had swiftly passed by.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He leans in to check our documents and, after a hard, suspicious glance, waves us through.

The New Yorker

I shoot Noel a slightly suspicious glance and then I wander into his bedroom.

The Guardian

Then we wouldn't receive any suspicious glances when we come in with our small checks.

The New Yorker

His every grimace is hilarious, his every suspicious glance a master class in comedy.

Huffington Post

One in profile is saying something as the other gives her a suspicious, sidelong glance.

The New York Times

Morgan and Zhenya may cast the occasional suspicious glance at some of Emma's male contemporaries, but the real culprit (Boswell doesn't keep this a secret for long) is their next-door neighbor, Roy, a divorced policeman in his 30's, doomed to try to reconcile his self-image as a righteous authority figure with the knowledge that he is also an at-large statutory rapist.

The New York Times - Books

When the careful and thoughtful boundaries that establish how we function in person blend and blur at the intersection of our handhelds, MySpace profiles and Instant Message emoticons, we are chipping away at our respect for one another and leaving behind a trail of suspicious glances and bruised egos.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine “a suspicious glance” with descriptive body language to enhance the nonverbal communication between characters, indicating underlying tensions or unspoken concerns.

Common error

Avoid overusing "a suspicious glance" as a replacement for direct dialogue or action. Relying too heavily on this phrase can make your writing seem repetitive or lacking in genuine interaction and development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a suspicious glance" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig suggests, it describes an act of looking that conveys mistrust or doubt. Examples show it used to depict a character's reaction or perception of a situation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a suspicious glance" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to depict a look of mistrust or doubt. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English, effectively conveying subtle feelings or reactions in various contexts. While not overly common, it appears consistently in news and media, making it a versatile addition to descriptive writing. Related phrases like "a dubious look" or "a mistrustful gaze" offer similar shades of meaning. Using it wisely adds depth and nuance to your writing, avoiding overuse to maintain impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a dubious look

Replaces "suspicious glance" with synonyms focusing on doubt rather than suspicion.

a mistrustful gaze

Substitutes "glance" with "gaze" to imply a longer, more intense look of mistrust.

a skeptical look

Replaces "suspicious" with "skeptical", indicating questioning rather than outright mistrust.

a wary observation

Changes "glance" to "observation", suggesting a more deliberate act of watching with caution.

a questioning stare

Uses "stare" to intensify the look and "questioning" to focus on the inquisitive aspect of the suspicion.

a distrustful peek

Replaces "glance" with "peek", implying a quick, secretive look of distrust.

a cynical expression

Shifts from the act of looking to the overall facial expression conveying cynicism.

an incredulous gaze

Focuses on disbelief rather than suspicion, conveying a look of astonishment and doubt.

a disbelieving look

Highlights the lack of belief or acceptance in the expression.

a dubious expression

Switches from the act of looking to an overall facial expression connoting strong doubt.

FAQs

How can I use "a suspicious glance" in a sentence?

Use "a suspicious glance" to describe a look that conveys doubt, mistrust, or uncertainty. Example: "She cast "a suspicious glance" at the stranger who entered the room."

What are some alternatives to "a suspicious glance"?

Alternatives include "a dubious look", "a mistrustful gaze", or "a skeptical look", which all convey similar sentiments of doubt or disbelief.

When is it appropriate to use "a suspicious glance" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "a suspicious glance" when you want to subtly indicate a character's distrust or skepticism without explicitly stating it. It's effective for adding nuance to nonverbal communication.

What's the difference between "a suspicious glance" and "a wary look"?

"A suspicious glance" implies a specific feeling of distrust or suspicion, while "a wary look" suggests more general caution or alertness to potential danger. The former is more focused on doubting someone's intentions.