Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
dim view

dim view

5 5.1
A bad opinion of someone or something
  • noun
translation icon : opinión desfavorable
  • The city council took a dim view of the proposed budget cuts.
  • take a dim view
  • such a dim view

The answer is no, because Kierkegaard actually has a very dim view of the theology of his time.

Examples

  • His parents take a very dim view of the Martineau business.

    Another Country (1984)

  • I'll take a very dim view.

    Grave Intentions (2021)

  • The county takes a dim view of everything.

    Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

  • Like our government, I take a most dim view of that.

    The Night of the Generals (1967)

  • As one might expect, he takes a dim view of the project.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Even I took a dim view of that.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Take a dim view of what they and their media say.

    Blog text (12)

  • The locals might take a dim view.

    Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

  • Neither China nor Burma is democratic, and both take a dim view of dissent.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The coalition of trial lawyers and car safety advocates, for instance, holds a very dim view of preemption under national automobile safety laws and regulations.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

disdain
vsdim view
65 6.5

A feeling of strong dislike and lack of respect

is a negative opinion without the strong contempt element
disapproval
vsdim view
45 3.0

A feeling that shows you do not agree with someone or what they do

is a general negative opinion or attitude rather than an expression
distaste
vsdim view
28 4.1

A mild feeling of not liking something

is an unfavorable opinion rather than just a personal feeling
dismissiveness
vsdim view
1 7.5

A way of showing you do not value someone's ideas or feelings

is a negative opinion focused on judging rather than ignoring worth
disrelish
vsdim view
1 9.9

A feeling of dislike for something like a food or task

is a judged negative attitude rather than a mild personal feeling
unfavorable judgment
vsdim view
  • US
6.8

An opinion or decision that says something is not good

is a general unfavorable opinion rather than a formal decision

How Negative

dim view
5 5.1
skepticism
  • US
124 5.1
enthusiasm
288 2.2

Surface Forms

dim view singular
dim views plural

Morphology

dim + view

The meaning is partly derivable because 'dim' (low/poor) combined with 'view' (opinion) yields the idea of a low or unfavorable opinion, so a B1 learner who knows both words can often guess the general sense. However, the usage relies on a metaphorical extension and a somewhat fixed collocation ('have a dim view of'), so the precise pragmatic flavour (disapproving attitude) may not be fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Dim view may come from the simple image of looking at something in low light; if your view is dim you cannot see it clearly. So people began to use the idea of a poor or unclear sight to mean judging someone or something badly, which is why it now means 'an unfavorable opinion'.