stink eye

noun

informal : a look expressing annoyance, resentment, or disapproval
usually used with the
As I bumbled my way through the ordering experience in Boston, I could feel the regulars giving me the stink eye [=giving me a dirty look]. "Who is this clueless fool?" I imagined them thinking to themselves, as I accidentally cut off the woman ahead of me.Tim SchenckAnd when a new intruder comes … into my cove,… I do what any good bass fisherman would do. I give him the stink eye.David Lansing

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stink eye was in 1960

Dictionary Entries Near stink eye

Cite this Entry

“Stink eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stink%20eye. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


A Good Old-Fashioned Quiz

Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY