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Glite Dictionary
stern look

stern look

2 3.1
A serious face that shows someone is unhappy or strict
  • noun
translation icon : mirada severa
  • After hearing the noise, the mother turned and shot her child a stern look to quiet him down.
  • gives a stern look
  • stern look on her face
  • shot him a stern look

So maybe just a a stern look is the punishment for this one.

Examples

  • Ella's father gave her a stern look and lifted her off the bed.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "Well," her mother said, fixing her with a stern look.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • One day his mother met him with a stern look.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • The doctor's face lost that stern look.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Molly cast Doc a stern look.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • The sheriff dropped his hands deep into his coat pockets, a stern look on his face.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Marie examined them with the stern look of a schoolteacher.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • A stern look from Belinda was all it took to send them both leaping to the floor.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Johnnie gave her a stern look and said, "We are the Dillinger Gang, Mrs. Francis, and we have never killed anyone."

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The teacher gave the student a stern look when he arrived late to class.

Synonyms

scowl
vsstern look
15 3.9

An angry look that shows you do not like something

is serious and strict rather than openly angry
dirty look
vsstern look
10 2.8

A look that shows dislike or anger

is serious and disapproving rather than mainly hostile or spiteful
death stare
vsstern look
2 7.4

A fierce look that shows anger or dislike

is serious and strict but less fierce and intimidating in force
cold stare
vsstern look
2 4.6

A fixed unfriendly look that shows anger or disapproval

is serious and strict but usually less fixed and more controlled
sober look
vsstern look
1 5.1

A serious face that shows little or no emotion

is strict and disapproving rather than merely grave or neutral
flinty gaze
vsstern look
7.6

A hard, cold look that shows no feeling

is serious and disapproving but less coldly unyielding
disapproving frown
vsstern look
4.0

A look with eyebrows pulled together and lips pressed to show disapproval

is a broader serious expression instead of a specific facial gesture
frosty glance
vsstern look
6.6

A cold unfriendly look someone gives to show dislike

is serious and strict but without the strong contempt implied

Antonyms

smile
∞ 1.0

A facial expression with the mouth corners turned up to show happiness or friendliness

How Disapproving

glare
18 3.9
scowl
15 3.9
stern look
2 3.1
frown
54 1.0

Surface Forms

stern look singular
stern looks plural

Morphology

stern + look

The meaning 'a serious or disapproving facial expression' is directly and compositionally derived from 'stern' (firm, uncompromising) modifying 'look' (facial expression). This adjective + noun combination follows a transparent, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words should readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Stern look comes from the word stern, which long ago meant 'firm' or 'strict', and look, meaning a face or glance. Picture someone with a hard face and no smile that seems to warn others. That image shows 'disapproval', so today stern look means a serious, disapproving expression.