breaking gaze

USAGE SUMMARY

"breaking gaze" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to describe the action of someone looking away from someone else after they have been gazing at each other. For example: "She shifted nervously, breaking gaze with him as soon as he stepped into the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There was no need to break gaze from the river running just below my bathtub terrace.

Huffington Post

For your average guitar player, it's hard enough to get people to break gaze with the barman long enough to actually watch an entire song, but for Jason the challenge starts with simply finding a venue he can get into.

Vice

Harper's staid but surprising mother (Susan Brown bristles and then breaks) gazes out of her lace curtains and, as the scene shifts, is seen from the other side of the pane: the gods of surveillance are everywhere.

The Guardian

Then she tilted her chin and blew out the smoke, all without breaking her gaze.

The New Yorker

Without breaking my gaze I said again, "I will not let you take my son away".

The New York Times - Magazine

That said, Cotte's new report is more controversial than the The Lady with an Ermine, since they strip da Vinci's subject of her famous fourth wall-breaking gaze and sly smile.

Vice

Mr. Jung never broke his gaze on the screen.

The New York Times

Like a palace guard, he never broke his gaze, even when audience members came too close.

The New York Times - Arts

Sachs looks at her, she looks at him and they can't break their gaze.

The Guardian - Music

As the discussion continued, as a breeze blew and Fabio's hands wantonly roved, as the music pulsed and the dance-floor lights blinked different colors, the woman shared with Filthy a sentimental poem she'd written called "Falling," but still, she never once broke her gaze with the other guy.

The New York Times - Magazine

The first to break the gaze would lose, so she didn't blink.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "breaking gaze" to effectively describe the moment someone looks away, particularly when there's been a sustained period of eye contact, to convey shifts in power dynamics, discomfort, or a change in emotional state.

Common error

Avoid using "breaking gaze" interchangeably with simpler terms like "looking away" when the specific nuance of interrupting a sustained, meaningful look is intended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breaking gaze" functions primarily as a verbal phrase acting as a noun, often a gerund, describing the act of interrupting or ending a period of looking at someone or something. Ludwig AI validates that the expression is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Wiki

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Science

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Less common in

Formal & Business

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Social Media

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Encyclopedias

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "breaking gaze" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of interrupting eye contact. Despite its infrequent occurrence, Ludwig AI indicates that is indeed a correct and usable phrase. It is most commonly found in neutral contexts, such as news articles and descriptive writing, and its purpose is to subtly convey shifts in emotion or dynamics. While alternatives like "averting eyes" or "looking away" exist, "breaking gaze" specifically emphasizes the interruption of a sustained look.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

averting eyes

Focuses specifically on the action of looking away, without necessarily implying a previous mutual gaze.

looking away

A more general term for directing one's sight elsewhere, regardless of prior eye contact.

shifting one's gaze

Highlights the movement of the eyes to a different point of focus.

diverting one's eyes

Suggests a deliberate attempt to avoid looking at something or someone.

terminating eye contact

More formal phrasing emphasizing the end of visual connection.

ending the stare

Specifically refers to stopping a prolonged or intense look.

releasing visual contact

A more technical or detached way of describing the cessation of looking.

ceasing to look

A straightforward expression for stopping the act of looking.

interrupting the visual connection

Emphasizes the disruption of a shared look or gaze.

withdrawing one's attention

Highlights the act of pulling back focus, which includes but isn't limited to sight.

FAQs

How to use "breaking gaze" in a sentence?

You can use "breaking gaze" to describe someone averting their eyes from another person, often indicating discomfort or a change in the interaction. For example: "She nervously admitted to the issue, "breaking gaze" and fidgeting with her hands."

What can I say instead of "breaking gaze"?

You can use alternatives like "averting eyes", "looking away", or "shifting one's gaze depending" on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "break gaze" or "breaking gaze"?

"Breaking gaze" is generally used as a gerund or participle, often within a larger sentence structure, while "break gaze" might be used as an imperative. The better option will depend on your sentence's context.

What does "breaking gaze" imply about the relationship between people?

"Breaking gaze" often implies a shift in power, discomfort, or a change in emotional state between individuals. It suggests that eye contact was previously established, and the act of looking away signals a change in that dynamic.