# Idioms equivalence, I am searching for "To look dagger at someone" in other languages **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049 "2026-04-05T18:43:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/21 "2026-04-08T19:54:23Z")
To me the phrase was always “eyes were shooting daggers”, not looking or staring. But Google tells me all three are common. Giving someone the stink-eye has a different meaning. Shooting (looking/starting/whatever) daggers is giving someone a look of pure hatred. It implies anger. Giving someone the stink-eye is a look of strong disapproval, and doesn’t imply anger. The closest Greek phrase is probably βγάζω αστραπές από τα μάτια (vgazo astrapes apo ta matia), which translates to “taking out lightning bolts from the eyes”. So, similar to the OP’s first French equivalent. > [@Mangetout](#): > > we also have ‘give the evil eye’ Giving someone the “evil eye” in Greek has a different meaning. It’s more like putting a curse on someone than glaring at them angrily or disapprovingly. Some Greeks will wear a μάτι (mati) necklace (eye necklace) to ward of the evil eye and protect the wearer. [![](https://sirioti.com/cdn/shop/collections/Sterling_Silver_925_Greek_Evil_Eye_Mati_Meander_Chain_Pendant_21mm_Necklace_Turquoise_Micropave_Enamel_Evil_Eye_Jewelry_Good_Luck_Mati.jpg?v=1712842309) ](https://sirioti.com/cdn/shop/collections/Sterling_Silver_925_Greek_Evil_Eye_Mati_Meander_Chain_Pendant_21mm_Necklace_Turquoise_Micropave_Enamel_Evil_Eye_Jewelry_Good_Luck_Mati.jpg?v=1712842309) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/22 "2026-04-08T20:24:16Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > This is not quite so aggressive as “daggers” and it’s regional English, rather than a different language, though I’m guessing the English is probably a translation from Hawaiian. But here we say “to give someone the stink-eye.” It is …disapproving. That’s pretty common slang in California, too. It may have originally started as surfer lingo, which would make sense for it to be common in both California and Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/23 "2026-04-08T20:31:41Z")
I think that “stink-eye” is used throughout the US. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/24 "2026-04-08T20:37:00Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > From an American English point of view, I’ve never heard the term “to look daggers” so the thread title piqued my interest. I’ve only ever heard “staring daggers” I grew up in California, and my experience is the opposite: I only know “to look daggers at” someone. “Staring daggers” sounds weird and wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/25 "2026-04-08T20:38:12Z")
Also grew up in California, and I have the exact opposite reaction. “Staring daggers” is the version I’m familiar with, “looking daggers” sounds off. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/26 "2026-04-08T21:48:39Z")
SoCal native here too. I side with @Miller on this one. Although as I try to think back, I bet I’ve never heard that spoken by anyone any time in my life. I’ve only ever read it in books. If true, that suggests where we each lived is much less important than which authors we each read. And maybe when those books were written. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/27 "2026-04-08T22:02:55Z")
A different, but related, expression is to “stiff-eye” someone. I’ve never seen it used outside _The Autobiography of Malcolm X_, but it seems like a useful turn of phrase. When young Malcolm’s girlfriend walked into a club with her husband, she “stiff-eyed” Malcolm to warn him not to approach. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/28 "2026-04-08T22:06:10Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Giving someone the stink-eye is a look of strong disapproval, and doesn’t imply anger. There’s also the colourful “giving someone the hairy eyeball”. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049/29 "2026-04-16T15:31:35Z")
Only ever ‘stink eye’ here in the Midwest. Staring Daggers at someone sounds Southern. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idioms-equivalence-i-am-searching-for-to-look-dagger-at-someone-in-other-languages/1029049.md?page=1)