suspicious glance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspicious glance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a look of suspicion, usually directed at someone else. For example: The suspect avoided eye contact with the officers, casting a suspicious glance at the door before turning to face them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 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

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

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

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

Huffington Post

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Now there were suspicious glances to endure, leaving traveling residents uncomfortable.

The New York Times - Travel

The streets are deserted and suspicious glances are cast her way by people.

The New Yorker

I will deal with the suspicious glances at my satchel in the meantime.

The Guardian - Opinion

Farrell follows him, maintaining a frown and daggering the man with suspicious glances.

The Guardian - Film

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

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suspicious glance" to subtly convey a character's distrust or skepticism without explicitly stating their feelings. It adds nuance to descriptions and dialogue.

Common error

Avoid using "suspicious glance" when a more direct expression of accusation or confrontation is intended. It is a subtle cue, not a replacement for explicit statements of doubt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspicious glance" functions as a noun phrase, where "suspicious" modifies the noun "glance". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, indicating that it effectively describes a specific type of look characterized by distrust or doubt. Examples from Ludwig show this phrase used to subtly convey skepticism.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

13%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "suspicious glance" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression used to describe a look characterized by doubt or distrust. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, serving to subtly convey a character's skepticism or concern without explicit declaration. Alternative phrases like "distrustful look" or "wary look" offer similar nuances, though "suspicious glance" specifically implies a concern about potential wrongdoing. When writing, use it to add depth to character descriptions and dialogue, but avoid substituting it for more direct expressions when necessary. In conclusion, "suspicious glance" provides a useful tool for writers seeking to subtly communicate feelings of doubt or distrust.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distrustful look

Replaces "glance" with "look", emphasizing the visual aspect of distrust.

wary look

Substitutes "suspicious" with "wary", highlighting caution and apprehension.

skeptical look

Uses "skeptical" instead of "suspicious", focusing on doubt and disbelief.

dubious look

Replaces "suspicious" with "dubious", suggesting uncertainty or question.

doubtful gaze

Replaces "suspicious" with "doubtful" emphasizing uncertainty and lack of confidence.

questioning gaze

Substitutes "glance" with "gaze", implying a longer, more intense look of inquiry.

untrusting gaze

Substitutes "suspicious" with "untrusting", stressing a lack of trust.

disbelieving stare

Uses "stare" instead of "glance", suggesting a prolonged and incredulous look.

incredulous look

Highlights disbelief and astonishment rather than mere suspicion.

cautious observation

Shifts from a quick look to a more deliberate act of watching with caution.

FAQs

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

You can use "suspicious glance" to describe someone looking at another person or object with distrust or doubt. For example, "She cast a "suspicious glance" at the stranger." or "He gave the offer a "suspicious glance" before accepting it."

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

While both convey doubt, "suspicious glance" implies a specific concern about potential wrongdoing, whereas "skeptical look" suggests a more general questioning or disbelief. The "skeptical look" focuses on doubt, the "suspicious glance" implies some wrongdoing.

Are there synonyms for "suspicious glance" that convey a similar meaning?

Yes, alternatives such as "distrustful look", "wary look", or "dubious look" can be used to convey a similar sense of doubt or distrust.

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

It's appropriate when you want to show a character's internal feelings of doubt or distrust non-verbally, adding subtlety to the narrative without explicitly stating their suspicions. For a more direct feeling, you could substitute it with an alternative, like "untrusting gaze".