cycloptic gaze
- noun
- /saɪˈklɒptɪk ɡeɪz/
- The teacher fixed a cycloptic gaze on the noisy students, silencing the room at once.
Examples
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A cycloptic gaze from the interviewer made her hesitate before answering.
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He felt unsettled under the cycloptic gaze of the ancient statue.
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He gave her a cycloptic gaze that made her uncomfortable.
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The artist's cycloptic gaze captivated everyone in the room.
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The teacher fixed a cycloptic gaze on the noisy students, silencing the room at once.
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He felt unsettled under the cycloptic gaze of the ancient statue.
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A cycloptic gaze from the interviewer made her hesitate before answering.
Synonyms
A long steady look at someone or something
A long, careful look at someone or something
Strong, steady attention that shows determination
A hard, cold look that shows no feeling
A hard, emotionless look that shows someone will not change their mind
How Focused
Surface Forms
Morphology
cycloptic + gaze
If a learner knows 'cycloptic' (relating to a single/one-eyed focus) and 'gaze' (a sustained look), the combined meaning is directly derivable: a single‑focused or intensely directed look. The adjective+noun composition is regular and predictable, so the expression is comprehensible from its parts.
Etymology
The phrase cycloptic gaze comes from the story of the Cyclops, a giant with 'one eye'. The image of a single eye fixed on one point explains why cycloptic (one-eyed) and gaze (look) mean a very intense, focused look that seems to watch only one thing.