Side-eye is a sideways, suspicious look that says “oh really?”, “seriously?” or “I see what you're doing”. People give it when they doubt, disapprove or are annoyed: she gave me the side-eye. Online, side-eye is simply a sceptical reaction to a doubtful claim, no actual look needed. Informal; neutrally, a doubtful look.
Could you drop side-eye into a text?
Write a short message — we'll show the mistakes right away and suggest how to say it more naturally.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
give someone the side-eye; side-eye someone; side eye
- She gave me the side-eye when I called the burnt toast breakfast.
- The claim earned a lot of side-eye from readers.
- He side-eyed the broken umbrella I offered him.
What changed
First versionNora gave to me the side-eye when I mentioned another meeting.
RevisionNora gave me the side-eye when I mentioned another meeting.
You give something to someone, so to feels natural: gave to me. But in give someone something, the person comes straight after give, without to: gave me the side-eye. With to, the order changes: gave the side-eye to me.
A glance is a quick look with no judgement. A stare is a long, fixed look. Side-eye always says something: doubt, annoyance or disapproval.
Your turn
Choose the standard double-object pattern: She gave ___ the side-eye.
Show the answer
me — In give + person + thing, the person comes without to: gave me the side-eye. To is needed only in the reverse order: gave the side-eye to me.
Describe a funny everyday moment when someone looked at you with doubt. Use give someone the side-eye and say why.
My sister gave me the side-eye when I said I had packed everything in one tiny bag.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.