threatening eyes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "threatening eyes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's gaze that conveys intimidation or menace. Example: "As she approached, he could feel her threatening eyes boring into him, making him uneasy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Unconscious, because some people do have decent enough hearts, yet are still bombarded by non-stop media images of bearded men with threatening eyes.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Our observation of a steady increase in the density of complex traits with age might be explained by only older subjects symptomatic or having vision threatening eye diseases coming to the clinic.

Plosone

The overall awareness of vision threatening eye conditions and preventive measures is low in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal.

BMC Ophthalmology

The development of frank glaucoma, threatening eye sight, is rare for low-dose therapy, and tends to appear in patients who are otherwise pre-disposed to the condition.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

"Clearly this research is still at an early stage but it will be exciting to watch how it progresses and at some point cholesterol-lowering eye drops may become part of a growing army of treatments for sight-threatening eye conditions".

BBC

Almost all Danish ophthalmologists contributed to the study increasing the inter-rater variability, and their screening by funduscopy may have overlooked 10-40% of sight-threatening eye disease [ 33].

BMC Public Health

Thus, those patients who are least likely to attend screening are also those at greatest risk of sight-threatening eye disease.

Diabetes Care

Accumulation of aqueous humour (free fluid) in the posterior chamber of the eye acts in concert with the vitreous body – a hydrogel comprising HA, collagen, proteoglycans and both free and bound water – to impinge upon ocular blood flow and the optic nerve, threatening the eye.

British Journal of Cancer

BERARD AND BRUINS ARE CLOSE: Defenseman Bryan Berard is close to signing with the Boston Bruins to continue his comeback from a career-threatening eye injury.

The New York Times - Sports

Re "For a Teenage Boy, a Basketball and a Bug Spell Trouble" (Nov. 30): Septal cellulitis could be a life-threatening eye disorder if not treated right away.

The New York Times

Vancouver Canucks' center Manny Malhotra returned from a career-threatening eye injury to give his teammates a spiritual lift to start Game 2. Alexandre Burrows, penalized in the opener for biting Boston Bruin Patrice Bergeron's gloved finger, scored twice, including the 3-2 overtime winner, to give Vancouver a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "threatening eyes" to vividly portray a character's intimidating or menacing nature, making sure the context supports the intensity of the image.

Common error

Avoid using "threatening eyes" too frequently in your writing. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "menacing gaze" or "intimidating stare" to keep the prose fresh and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "threatening eyes" functions primarily as a descriptive element, adding detail to a character or situation by conveying a sense of menace or intimidation through their gaze. As supported by Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "threatening eyes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe an intimidating or menacing gaze. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While versatile, writers should be mindful of overuse and consider synonyms like "menacing gaze" or "intimidating stare" to enrich their prose. The phrase finds its place across diverse contexts, including news, media, and casual conversation, and maintains a neutral register. Use it judiciously to convey a vivid sense of threat or unease.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

menacing gaze

Replaces the noun 'eyes' with 'gaze' to convey a similar sense of threat.

intimidating stare

Uses 'intimidating' instead of 'threatening' and 'stare' instead of 'eyes', focusing on the effect the gaze has.

hostile look

Conveys the threatening nature through the adjective 'hostile' describing the overall expression.

piercing eyes

Indicates an intense and unsettling gaze, suggesting a deep or penetrating quality.

glaring eyes

Suggests an angry and aggressive look, emphasizing the intensity of the gaze.

angry eyes

Simply describes the eyes as displaying anger, a common emotion associated with threat.

fierce gaze

Highlights the intense and powerful nature of the gaze.

dark eyes

Suggests mystery and potential danger, indirectly conveying a sense of threat through visual imagery.

unfriendly eyes

A more subtle way of indicating that someone's eyes express negativity or hostility.

cold stare

Emphasizes the lack of warmth or emotion in the gaze, creating a sense of unease and potential threat.

FAQs

How can I use "threatening eyes" in a sentence?

You can use "threatening eyes" to describe a character's intimidating gaze, such as "As she approached, he could feel her "threatening eyes" boring into him."

What can I say instead of "threatening eyes"?

You can use alternatives like "menacing gaze", "intimidating stare", or "hostile look" depending on the context.

What does "threatening eyes" imply?

"Threatening eyes" suggests that someone's gaze is conveying intimidation, anger, or a sense of potential danger. It can be used to create a feeling of unease or fear in the observer.

Is "threatening eyes" a cliché?

While "threatening eyes" is a common phrase, it's not necessarily a cliché if used effectively. To avoid predictability, consider using more specific descriptions or synonyms like "piercing eyes" or "glaring eyes" to add depth to your writing.