Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A confrontation in which each party waits for the other to yield

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

stare +‎ down

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word staredown.

Examples

  • New York Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Mr. Ortiz was involved in a "staredown" with a rival near the Bushwick Houses at 140 Moore St. Mr. Kelly said Mr. Ortiz fired two shots during that altercation around 9 p.m.

    Charges in Shooting Sean Gardiner 2012

  • Aidan interrupted while continuing his smoldering staredown.

    Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011

  • Because in Game 3 of this pivotal line-in-the-sand staredown between ancient rivals, C.C. Sabathia was in the house.

    One Season William Fredrick Cooper 2011

  • I'm going to slap him in the face in meetings for saying that, Tollefson said, still sending the staredown his fellow defensive end's way.

    The Saddest Man in the Locker Room Aditi Kinkhabwala 2011

  • The Audis of Germany will battle the Peugeots of France in what has become the most intense global staredown in car racing.

    French Speed vs. German Muscle A.J. Baime 2011

  • Minutes later, coach Tom Coughlin said it "seems like there's chapters" to this protracted staredown.

    A Giant Soap Opera Engulfs Camp Aditi Kinkhabwala 2011

  • Because in Game 3 of this pivotal line-in-the-sand staredown between ancient rivals, C.C. Sabathia was in the house.

    One Season William Fredrick Cooper 2011

  • Watching the Showtime pre-fight documentaries, there's a telling moment when Froch is getting out of a car with his manager prior to the taping of the "staredown", and in all boredom asks him, "Is this going to get heated, because I'm not in the mood...", which says more about the general tenor of the build-up than any montage set to martial music.

    Andre Ward beats Carl Froch - as it happened! | Graham Parker 2011

  • The Audis of Germany will battle the Peugeots of France in what has become the most intense global staredown in car racing.

    French Speed vs. German Muscle A.J. Baime 2011

  • We got into a staredown with the Russian bear and we blinked. ...

    Our European Allies 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.