stare someone in the face

stare someone in the face
stare someone in the face phrase
if something is staring you in the face, it should be obvious to you

The answer was staring me in the face.

Thesaurus: to be, or to become obvious or noticeablesynonym
Main entry: stare

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be glaringly apparent or obvious

the answer had been staring him in the face

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stare (someone) in the face — see stare, 1
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Main Entry:face
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stare (someone) in the face (also chiefly US stare (someone) in the eye(s))
: to look directly into the eyes of (someone)

She stared me in the face and told me to leave.

— usually used figuratively

The solution was staring me in the face. [=the solution was obvious but I failed to see it]

Failure was staring him in the face. [=he was very close to failing; he was almost certain to fail]

They stared death in the face/eye [=they came very close to death; they did something that was very dangerous and that could have caused their death] and didn't flinch.

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Main Entry:stare

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • stare someone in the face — if something is staring you in the face, it should be obvious to you The answer was staring me in the face …   English dictionary

  • stare someone in the face — verb To be extremely visible and obvious. Then, one night you wake up with a start at 3 oclock in the morning with the answer staring you in the face. Or maybe it hits you in the bath, like Archimedes, or while youre on the loo …   Wiktionary

  • stare someone in the eye — (or face) look fixedly or boldly at someone …   Useful english dictionary

  • stare in the face — stare (someone) in the face see ↑stare, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑face stare (someone) in the face (also chiefly US stare (someone) in the eye(s)) : to look directly into the eyes of (someone) …   Useful english dictionary

  • be staring someone in the face — ► be staring someone in the face be glaringly obvious. Main Entry: ↑stare …   English terms dictionary

  • stare — [ster] vi. stared, staring [ME staren < OE starian, akin to ON stara < Gmc * stara , having fixed eyes, rigid < IE base * (s)ter , rigid, stiff > STARK, Gr strēnēs, hard] 1. to gaze or look steadily with eyes wide open, as in fear,… …   English World dictionary

  • stare — stare1 [ ster ] verb intransitive *** to look at someone or something very directly for a long time: It s rude to stare. stare at: He lifted his head and stared at her. stare into/out of/through etc.: They sat on the balcony, staring out across… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stare — I UK [steə(r)] / US [ster] verb [intransitive] Word forms stare : present tense I/you/we/they stare he/she/it stares present participle staring past tense stared past participle stared *** a) to look at someone or something very directly for a… …   English dictionary

  • stare — [c]/stɛə / (say stair) verb (stared, staring) –verb (i) 1. to gaze fixedly, especially with the eyes wide open. 2. to stand out boldly or obtrusively to view. 3. (of hair, feathers, etc.) to stand on end; bristle. –verb (t) 4. to stare at. 5. to… …  

  • stare — ► VERB 1) look fixedly at someone or something with the eyes wide open. 2) (stare out/down) look fixedly at (someone) until they feel forced to look away. ► NOUN ▪ an act of staring. ● be staring someone in the face Cf. ↑be staring some …   English terms dictionary

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