I.verbCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
let your gaze/eyes/thoughts/mind etc drift
▪ Idly she let her eyes drift over his desk.
look/gaze longingly at sb/sth
▪ He looked longingly at the tray of cakes.
look/gaze/stare out of the window
▪ Mom stared out of the window at the road.
piercing gaze
▪ She felt foolish and unsure under his piercing gaze.
return sb’s gaze/stare
▪ She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, refusing to return his gaze.
stare/gaze/look fixedly at sth
▪ Ann stared fixedly at the screen.
the public gaze (=people's eyes or attention)
▪ Their activities have been hidden from the public gaze.
unblinking stare/gaze
▪ His father’s unblinking gaze was fixed on the fire.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
around
▪ She gazed around her, impressed in spite of her unease and her determination to appear indifferent.
▪ He warily gazed around at his detractors, fully aware that any slim camaraderie they shared was likely to smolder as well.
▪ Lifting her head, she gazed around bleakly, and sighed.
▪ Smiling, she gazed around her.
▪ His eyes are wide as he gazes around in a kind of apprehension.
▪ On the concourse people stood around gazing up at the departure and arrival boards, checking times of trains.
▪ Others were content to sit and wait, reading their programmes or gazing around.
▪ As I gazed around the orchard the sun was coming up and there was that peculiar smell of the Normandy countryside.
back
▪ Large, solemn grey eyes gazed back, shadowed with tension.
▪ Toni turned her gaze back to the fireplace to grasp a newly feigned interest in the bright flames.
▪ They only gazed back at us with eerie little smiles.
▪ Then, at the final moment you turned, gazing back in my direction.
▪ The boy gazed back sweetly, forbearing from touching anything, and daring anyone to challenge his intentions.
▪ And, gazing back, Pumfrey tried to interpret, from his expression, the implications of that last remark.
▪ She blushed faintly and gazed back.
blankly
▪ The tea forgotten, she gazed blankly through the window.
▪ Katherine lay on the bed which had become hers and gazed blankly at the ceiling.
▪ He walked off and I gazed blankly at the cricket match.
down
▪ The rabbit, she thought tipsily, does not willingly gaze down the barrel of the gun.
▪ Something which ignited in those brown depths as he gazed down at her.
▪ The Sphinx of Giza gazed down at the red velvet couch.
▪ Forty-one Liz stood in her darkening bedroom and gazed down at Anna.
▪ Were those dark eyes that were gazing down at her really Guido's?
▪ For a long moment they lay and she gazed down at him, their eyes locked.
fixedly
▪ He compromised by gazing fixedly into the middle distance, where moorland and forest drifted by and could be contemplated almost casually.
▪ Nathan gazed fixedly at her for a moment with an expression she couldn't fathom, then disappeared again.
longingly
▪ Apparently not, for now she was gazing longingly at the pool, then at Liz.
off
▪ Robbie gazed off into space for a moment.
▪ He stood gazing off into vistas, legs apart, arms folded across his chest and thought deep thoughts.
out
▪ The familiar figure of Selwyn Hopkins sat on the bench under the horse chestnut tree, gazing out over the estuary.
▪ The shop owner continued to gaze out at the blue air which fell away below, just ten yards from his feet.
▪ Above her head, Pauline gazed out at the camera with composure, her dark hair smooth, her dark brows winged.
▪ He gazes out as the Setting sun turns the placid ocean into a sea of gold.
▪ I found him sitting on the bench to the side of the house gazing out over Backyards.
▪ That Casey rocks, he hums, he gazes out the window.
▪ She went to the window and opened it, gazing out at the magnificent view over the vast lake.
round
▪ Most of the men preferred to avoid her glance, either gazing round the room or studying their shoes with intense interest.
▪ A darkly florid officer with black moustache walked briskly through the debris, gazing round as though looking for some one.
▪ When Elisabeth realised her mistake, she had stood up and gazed round the cinema.
▪ She stood still for a moment, breathing the air, gazing round her.
▪ Zach gazed round at the tiny wooden bed under the eaves.
still
▪ He was still gazing at her across the warm fog of the coffee bar.
▪ I will still gaze out the window as I write; they will still toil, but now in their dark home.
▪ He was still gazing straight at her, without smiling or speaking.
▪ She was still gazing upwards anxiously when Felipe reappeared, and this time he was climbing down.
▪ As a result, the Ragusans adopted him as their patron saint and his effigy still gazes out over the Stradun.
▪ Fairham was still gazing at the door.
up
▪ He walked without hesitation to the very front row, sat down and lay back, gazing up at the screen.
▪ Ted stayed on the phone for a while, and I gazed up at the sky.
▪ They were isolated from the crowd, their arms linked, the woman gazing up in to his face.
▪ Roland Darby looked at Luke Teal, who gazed up at the ceiling.
▪ The bull lifts its head a little and gazes up at the Admiralty for some moments.
▪ Fitzormonde gazed up at the cruel gargoyle faces on the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.
▪ We stood about for a while longer, gazing up.
upwards
▪ He gazed upwards until a lace curtain flicked back and he realised an elderly woman with white hair was studying him suspiciously.
▪ She was still gazing upwards anxiously when Felipe reappeared, and this time he was climbing down.
■ NOUN
awe
▪ Ruth gazed about her in awe.
▪ They gazed in awe at the hive of activity against the muted background clack of typewriter and word processor keyboards.
ceiling
▪ Katherine lay on the bed which had become hers and gazed blankly at the ceiling.
▪ Robins slightly endeared herself to me by going a little pink and gazing at the ceiling.
▪ She gazed at the ceiling, feeling her heart beat and breathing slowing to normal, her body quietening.
▪ She gazed up at the ceiling with its painted blue flowers and wondered what Arnie was doing in Bradford.
▪ Maurin was gazing at the ceiling.
▪ But others looked as though they were desperately trying to find a way out, gazing to the ceiling deep in thought.
▪ The two women remained motionless, gazing up at the ceiling as if to trace the source and direction of the footsteps.
face
▪ His face gazed moodily into mine.
▪ Immediately upon their entrance, they were washed by a shoal of white faces gazing at them from behind cold masks.
▪ Riders avoid our faces, and gaze down on our skull crowns where the bone jigsaw cleaves.
hand
▪ Edward was enthralled; he leaned his head on his hands and gazed.
▪ Dorothy leaned her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully at the Scarecrow.
▪ He held out his hand, and gazing at it with admiration he appeared to write on his extended palm.
▪ But when she glanced at him she saw he was supporting his chin on one hand and gazing directly at her.
▪ Gripping her spear in white hands, she stood gazing at the shadowy Isle.
head
▪ Above her head, Pauline gazed out at the camera with composure, her dark hair smooth, her dark brows winged.
▪ Lifting her head, she gazed around bleakly, and sighed.
▪ The bull lifts its head a little and gazes up at the Admiralty for some moments.
▪ Next moment every head turned to gaze skywards as a brilliant red star flared into life high above Bethlehem House.
▪ She stared confusedly at him for several seconds, then lowered her head, gazing into the glass she was holding.
▪ Turning her head sideways, Laura gazed at the man reclining in his seat beside her.
mirror
▪ She gazed dispiritedly into the mirror, and the face looking back was like that of a stranger, pale and hollow-eyed.
▪ Lovelock kept gazing into the mirror and finding that it was nearly bottomless.
▪ Her hands dropped to her sides as she gazed into the cracked mirror.
▪ In the primary when, for example, he gazes into a mirror.
▪ The relieved Prince grunted an acknowledgement, then leaned forward to gaze critically in the mirror.
▪ She sat gazing into the mirror.
moment
▪ For a moment, Vitor gazed at the ring in his hand, then he slid it into his hip pocket.
▪ For a moment he stood gazing balefully at the Corsican's back as he turned away to pass on down the line.
▪ But before I duck in, I pause a moment to gaze at the rapidly changing color of the sky.
▪ For long moments it gazed and the rabbits remained motionless, staring back without a sound.
▪ Then, at the final moment you turned, gazing back in my direction.
▪ He stopped for a moment and gazed about him.
▪ Donna stood at the window a moment longer, gazing out at the people in the street below.
room
▪ Most of the men preferred to avoid her glance, either gazing round the room or studying their shoes with intense interest.
▪ I saw that William was gazing across the room at the night beyond the windows.
▪ He frowns, and curls his beard round his fingers, gazing about the room.
▪ At this point, I gaze about the room, stretching a bit.
▪ I gazed quickly around the room and sighed bitterly.
▪ She gazed unseeingly across the room, ashamed of her own weakness, all too aware of her vulnerability.
▪ He gazed despairingly about the room.
▪ She gazed across the room at the door he kicked shut behind him, biting her lip.
sea
▪ He gazed out to sea and the horizon as he did it, offering no more yet giving so much away.
▪ Odysseus as usual was on the sandy shore letting his salt tears flow while he gazed at the empty sea.
▪ Those are rocks and you are sitting on them gazing out to sea.
▪ Instead of sitting down beside me as usual, he remained standing on the cockpit bench, gazing mournfully out to sea.
space
▪ Mrs Frizzell gazed into space and Mrs Murphy smoothed back errant curls from her damp forehead.
▪ Robbie gazed off into space for a moment.
▪ He was just gazing into space.
▪ Nails shut the door and stood gazing into space, silent, apparently thinking.
▪ Miles gazed out into space through the circular hatch in the roof of the chamber.
▪ The Grand Palace dominates the city, with its gleaming spires piercing the skyline and its Buddha statues gazing serenely into space.
window
▪ He walked to the window and gazed down through the net curtains.
▪ He walked to the window and gazed out at the rain, the stethoscope flapping against his chest.
▪ He went over to the window and gazed down into Hand and Ball Court.
▪ She sat on the chair by the window and gazed out at the wide lawns edged by chestnut trees.
▪ At one point she roamed over to the window and gazed out.
■ VERB
continue
▪ As he continued to gaze down into the sunlit water a sound intruded into his mind.
▪ The shop owner continued to gaze out at the blue air which fell away below, just ten yards from his feet.
▪ Willie continued to gaze at the materials.
sit
▪ For a moment, it could have been a second only, he sat rigidly gazing down at his clasped hands.
▪ She sat gazing into the mirror.
▪ Donna ordered brandy from the steward and sat gazing at the window of the train.
▪ After I have put the phone down I sit gazing at Kyle on the opposite side of the airwell.
▪ He wanted to sit for ever gazing out of the window as the landscape loomed close and then slid by.
▪ Mr White Face continued to sit cross-legged, gazing up at me, his tusked countenance quite inscrutable.
▪ But most of the night he sat in silence, gazing abstractedly into the fire.
stand
▪ Gripping her spear in white hands, she stood gazing at the shadowy Isle.
▪ For a time Kathy stood gazing at the night sky.
▪ Antony rose to his feet and stood gazing intensely at her.
▪ But the painting said nothing at all to me as I stood gazing at it.
▪ She walked a ways downriver and then stood gazing at the glimmering water.
▪ For a moment he stood gazing balefully at the Corsican's back as he turned away to pass on down the line.
▪ I stood there, gazing down, and feeling a reverence for these spectacles of the natural world.
stop
▪ She stopped and gazed intently down.
turn
▪ He is also replacing his receiver and turning to gaze thoughtfully out of the window.
▪ Toni turned her gaze back to the fireplace to grasp a newly feigned interest in the bright flames.
▪ The strident ringing startled him again, but this time he turned slowly, gazing at the phone.
▪ He turned to gaze at the lake and then shook his head in a knowing way.
▪ He turned to gaze with cool appraisal at his secretary, sitting sullenly all this time.
▪ Then, at the final moment you turned, gazing back in my direction.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
gaze at/contemplate your navel
level voice/look/gaze
▪ Her eyes were a washed-out blue with a level gaze.
look/stare/gaze into space
▪ He was just gazing into space.
▪ In his study, Bernard Quex stared into space, pen motionless over his notepad.
▪ Mrs Frizzell gazed into space and Mrs Murphy smoothed back errant curls from her damp forehead.
▪ Mrs James caught me staring into space twice even though the girl sitting next to me had nudged me in time.
▪ My companion remained oblivious to the sights, staring into space and frowning.
▪ Rachel screamed and woke up, drenched with sweat, shaking, staring into space.
▪ Sometimes the door was ajar and I would see her sitting absolutely still, staring into space, not reading at all.
▪ Usually, after a performance I come home and stare into space.
penetrating look/eyes/gaze etc
▪ Although most people would have stared at his nose Adam was more struck by his penetrating eyes.
▪ He was from Fukien province, was missionary-trained, and had bright, penetrating eyes.
▪ Matron was equally dignified, with a towering cap of white linen and a penetrating gaze.
▪ Nomatterwhat she did to distract herself, his dark penetrating eyes lingered in her memory as though they'd been branded there.
▪ Take a long hard, and penetrating look into the way you handle your life and the pattern of your partnerships in general.
▪ The woman scrutinized me from across the office, holding her penetrating gaze as I walked toward her.
▪ They were the blackest, brightest, most penetrating eyes I ever saw....
searching look/glance/gaze
▪ Crouched down beside it, Delaney took another searching glance behind him, at the lifeless, cluttered room.
▪ Guy led Chalon back on to the road, casting another searching glance up at Isabel's closed face.
▪ Soul searching Look no further for a hot new boy band.
▪ The searching gaze was too much for Denis.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ He stopped talking suddenly and gazed into the distance.
▪ I lay back on the sand and gazed at the stars above.
▪ Ruth gazed down at the sleeping child.
▪ She sat gazing out the windows at the people walking by.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Antony rose to his feet and stood gazing intensely at her.
▪ But before I duck in, I pause a moment to gaze at the rapidly changing color of the sky.
▪ Edward was enthralled; he leaned his head on his hands and gazed.
▪ He gazes at us full on with a half-smile and wide-open eyes.
▪ He was just gazing into space.
▪ She gazed dispiritedly at her own reflection in the mirror, seeing the dark shadows beneath her eyes.
▪ Surely he deserves better of me than to gaze at him with my policeman's eyes.
II.nounCOLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
blue
▪ His hazy blue gaze is one of quiet absence.
▪ Belinda dared to meet his wicked, twinkling blue gaze, and found that their eyes locked together surprisingly often.
▪ Hopefully her tour of the lodge would soon drive the mocking blue gaze of Matthew Blake from her mind.
▪ But Isabel saw genuine humour flash briefly in his blue gaze.
dark
▪ She found that his dark brown gaze was already fixed on her, and she swallowed very hard.
▪ Beside her, Julius's dark gaze remained fixed on the road ahead.
▪ She had been prepared to tolerate them for the sake of Nicolai's handsome uniformed appearance and dark romantic gaze.
▪ With difficulty she glanced away from his dark compelling gaze.
▪ She found her eyes drawn and caught in his dark gaze.
▪ A flicker of surprise in the dark gaze narrowed to amusement.
▪ Grateful to be spared the unsettling power of that dark gaze, Ronni took the opportunity to study him for a moment.
▪ She looked up and found Alain's eyes on her, the dark gaze studying her through the driving mirror.
level
▪ Her eyes were a washed-out blue with a level gaze.
▪ When the peat-brown eyes fixed on hers again, their level gaze showed he had recovered from his astonishment at seeing her.
male
▪ Theories of female spectatorship often begin by problematising the mechanisms of the male gaze.
▪ The determining male gaze projects its fantasy on to the female figure, which is styled accordingly.
▪ According to this argument, women internalise the male gaze to the point that they survey themselves.
public
▪ Whether diplomatic activity should be shielded from the public gaze is a matter for debate.
▪ We do not want to be doing strange and arcane things entirely out of the public gaze.
▪ In his last years, Stalin lived almost entirely secluded from the public gaze.
▪ Thought better by Jewry itself to withdraw him from the public gaze.
▪ Out in the cold ... far from the public gaze.
steady
▪ In view of the latter's steady, incredulous gaze, I could not blame him.
▪ Usually Sara saw him as a bronzed, athletic man with a steady gaze, manly features and narrow hips.
▪ He will look you squarely in the eye, with a steady gaze.
▪ Now the slow burn of his steady gaze awakened feelings within her which were scary.
▪ Jess felt embarrassed under his steady gaze.
▪ As she felt the pressure of his steady gaze she lost her sense of authority and began to feel awkward and girlish.
▪ For a few seconds she found her eyes trapped in that unnervingly steady gaze.
▪ He flinched but withstood the glare and held Lee's steady gaze.
■ VERB
allow
▪ What dreary offices we inhabit, I thought as I allowed my gaze to travel round this miniature version of my own.
▪ Her preoccupation with Proteus allowed Kevin's tormented gaze to creep up as far as her knees.
▪ She allowed her gaze to flick up every time the hand passed the twelve.
▪ She allowed her steady gaze to flicker from the glass which she had been holding firm.
avert
▪ This may be the wrong time for the party to avert its gaze.
▪ Neither of us cries but we are obviously repressing deep emotions, and peo-ple, sensing this, avert their gaze.
▪ Art, it seems, is the perpetual recidivist, always ducking back into the aesthetic as soon as vigilant life averts its gaze.
▪ In it the artist portrays a disheveled thirty-one-year-old Morisot averting her gaze from the viewer.
▪ I averted my gaze and felt uncomfortable.
▪ He averted his gaze from the Fermoyle house, where Jozia might be watching him this very moment.
▪ No, but I've averted my gaze a few times.
▪ I averted my gaze, taking in a deep breath then just to prove I could.
avoid
▪ Throughout our long conversation his head is constantly in motion, eyes darting to and fro consciously avoiding my gaze.
▪ It skidded to a halt immediately and rapidly looked away, avoiding the man's gaze.
▪ She sat down, avoiding the huge mirror behind him, trying to avoid his gaze.
▪ Steadfastly, she avoided his gaze, not wanting to give him an opportunity for some deflating remark.
▪ Willie shuffled with embarrassment and avoided her large gaze.
▪ They were all studiously avoiding meeting his gaze, though he thought they were watching him out of the sides of their eyes.
▪ Most had made for the jousting grounds to get a good seat; the rest carefully avoided Brandon's gaze.
direct
▪ They directed their gaze on Miss Bedwelty, confirming the worst.
▪ It is towards experiences, then, that we shall have to direct our analytical gaze.
draw
▪ His white linen undershirt was open at the throat, drawing Isabel's gaze upward.
▪ Letia half-turned to face her, drawing her gaze back.
▪ It was Corrary who pointed, and drew their gaze to the dark shadow on the water.
▪ Landed and aristocratic ladies drew his adoring gaze.
▪ Rows of simple wooden benches drew her gaze towards the altar, where candles burned beside a tall, plain wooden crucifix.
drop
▪ For no reason at all, she shivered and dropped her gaze.
▪ We look at each other, and then, drop our gaze to hide our confusion.
▪ Immediately, she dropped her gaze away, feeling torn once again.
▪ He dropped his gaze and concentrated on his hands, examining his clean perfect nails.
feel
▪ As he followed Isaac's gaze, Alan felt the nightmare closing in.
follow
▪ I followed her gaze down the long empty platform and there at the other end stood a tall figure.
▪ Mavis followed his gaze with her eyes and found her Uncle Alban.
▪ Dolly and Linda followed his gaze.
▪ He stared off toward a cluster of people near the fireplace and I followed his gaze.
▪ As he followed Isaac's gaze, Alan felt the nightmare closing in.
▪ There was a look of stupid surprise on his face, and Barbara followed his gaze, uncomprehending.
▪ Intrigued, she followed his gaze.
hold
▪ Fear spurted up into his mouth but he managed to hold the gaze, eye to eye.
▪ She looks up at him, holds his gaze for a second or two, then drops her eyes.
▪ The intense blue of his eyes had dimmed as he looked up and held her gaze.
▪ The woman scrutinized me from across the office, holding her penetrating gaze as I walked toward her.
▪ But it was his partner who drew and held Lindsey's gaze.
▪ Hitch held her gaze until he heard Plummer heading back towards the kitchen.
▪ She held his gaze as long as she could.
▪ He just stood there and looked at her and Maggie held his gaze for a moment before inviting him in.
keep
▪ He could not keep her gaze.
▪ I said evenly, keeping my gaze level and steady and my posture perpendicular and upright.
▪ He kept his gaze on one particular tree.
▪ He kept his gaze in his lap.
▪ The woman keeps shifting her gaze from Cote to stare at the pads with a kind of fascinated horror.
let
▪ Tallis watched them, then let her gaze wander along the stark crags and jutting masonry walls.
▪ He let his gaze rest upon the awed and silent faces that fringed his passage, but without seeing them.
▪ She did not let her gaze rise from this task.
▪ What does it mean when man gazes into a woman's eyes, then lets his gaze drop to her cleavage?
▪ Dreading what he might see, Rincewind let his gaze slide upwards.
▪ Idly, he let his gaze drift across the horizon.
▪ I found it hard not to let my gaze wander over the sideways-falling cup of her blue bikini.
lower
▪ He stepped back from the microphone and lowered his gaze, lost in painful emotion.
▪ When Ryan read the charge of homicide of Menendez, Franco lowered his gaze from the bench and stared at his feet.
▪ She lowered her gaze hastily and found her irrepressible sense of humour surfacing.
meet
▪ Duroc looked up at Rafferty, and the priest turned his head, meeting his gaze with pained, still-clear eyes.
▪ Jack looked down, afraid to meet his gaze.
▪ She sat at our feet in perfect composure, head high, her eyes never meeting my gaze.
▪ She was tense, almost afraid to breathe, almost afraid to meet his gaze.
▪ Her soft blue eyes hardened as they had never done before in her life and she met his gaze head-on.
▪ When Byrne looked back, Stephen could not meet his gaze.
▪ She said nothing, but she met his gaze fully and did not veil her own.
return
▪ Surere was returning his gaze out of candid, friendly eyes; convinced eyes.
▪ But still, I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, refusing to return his gaze.
▪ He returned her gaze intently - but remained silent.
▪ She returned his gaze without backing off.
shift
▪ They shifted their gaze to Rosen who grimaced sympathy at them, nodding.
▪ The woman keeps shifting her gaze from Cote to stare at the pads with a kind of fascinated horror.
▪ Then, as he seemed about to leave, he shifted his gaze from Sean O'Farrell and caught her staring.
tear
▪ A that Mala flushed slightly, but even so seemed unable to tear her gaze away from the man in gold and white.
▪ Bernice tore her gaze from the creature.
▪ At last Fairham tore his gaze away and filed out in front of Nicholson.
turn
▪ Puzzled, she turned her gaze once more to the pictured Petula.
▪ Ask yourself what turned your gaze in another direction.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
avert your eyes/gaze etc
▪ Art, it seems, is the perpetual recidivist, always ducking back into the aesthetic as soon as vigilant life averts its gaze.
▪ He stepped into the aisle, averting his eyes from the altar.
▪ I averted my eyes from her.
▪ I averted my gaze and felt uncomfortable.
▪ I wish I had power, just power enough to avert my eyes.
▪ In it the artist portrays a disheveled thirty-one-year-old Morisot averting her gaze from the viewer.
▪ Sometimes Fate tiptoes discreetly at the margins of our lives, averting her eyes and keeping her distance.
▪ They avert their eyes when they pass her in the hall.
drop your eyes/gaze
▪ They dropped their eyes and pretended not to notice him.
▪ For no reason at all, she shivered and dropped her gaze.
▪ He blessed himself and dropped his eyes as the hearse passed.
▪ I drop my eyes in confusion.
▪ I dropped my eyes to my foot, straightened out the tongue, and stood up.
▪ She dropped her eyes back to the pile of letters.
▪ She looks up at him, holds his gaze for a second or two, then drops her eyes.
▪ We look at each other, and then, drop our gaze to hide our confusion.
fasten your eyes/gaze on sb/sth
▪ Maggie fastened her eyes on him and tried to get control of her temper and her very stupidly lingering disappointment.
gaze at/contemplate your navel
level voice/look/gaze
▪ Her eyes were a washed-out blue with a level gaze.
look/stare/gaze into space
▪ He was just gazing into space.
▪ In his study, Bernard Quex stared into space, pen motionless over his notepad.
▪ Mrs Frizzell gazed into space and Mrs Murphy smoothed back errant curls from her damp forehead.
▪ Mrs James caught me staring into space twice even though the girl sitting next to me had nudged me in time.
▪ My companion remained oblivious to the sights, staring into space and frowning.
▪ Rachel screamed and woke up, drenched with sweat, shaking, staring into space.
▪ Sometimes the door was ajar and I would see her sitting absolutely still, staring into space, not reading at all.
▪ Usually, after a performance I come home and stare into space.
meet sb's eye(s)/gaze/glance etc
▪ It was hard to meet his eyes for long, and she looked away.
▪ Nothing in the three villagers' long but sheltered past could have prepared them for the horrendous sight that met their eyes.
▪ On occasion, she would meet Ted's eyes, and he would wink, and nod his head encouragingly.
▪ She met Charles's eyes and looked away in case he could read her renewed longing for Keele.
▪ She met his eyes without flinching, a mutinous sparkle enlivening the depths of her own grey gaze.
▪ They meet the eyes of others.
▪ This is an interesting question and there is probably more to it than meets the eye.
penetrating look/eyes/gaze etc
▪ Although most people would have stared at his nose Adam was more struck by his penetrating eyes.
▪ He was from Fukien province, was missionary-trained, and had bright, penetrating eyes.
▪ Matron was equally dignified, with a towering cap of white linen and a penetrating gaze.
▪ Nomatterwhat she did to distract herself, his dark penetrating eyes lingered in her memory as though they'd been branded there.
▪ Take a long hard, and penetrating look into the way you handle your life and the pattern of your partnerships in general.
▪ The woman scrutinized me from across the office, holding her penetrating gaze as I walked toward her.
▪ They were the blackest, brightest, most penetrating eyes I ever saw....
sb's eyes/gaze settles on sb/sth
sb's eyes/gaze/glance fall(s) on sth
▪ A fierce, terrified elation raced through her veins as her eyes fell on the knife only an inch away from her hand.
▪ As he scanned the room for potential defenders his eyes fell on Father Ed Dougherty.
▪ Does the gaze fall on the impaired body or on social barriers?
▪ He greeted her, his eyes falling on her again for an instant and then skittering away.
▪ He helped me shift the tea-chests and his eyes fell on your clothes as though dazed in a perfumed garden.
▪ Its huge eyes fell on the scrap of paper on the floor.
▪ Looking around, his glance fell on the twigs scattered on the ground where Cassowary had thrown them.
▪ My eyes fell on the bed and to my horror something began slowly to stir under the blanket.
searching look/glance/gaze
▪ Crouched down beside it, Delaney took another searching glance behind him, at the lifeless, cluttered room.
▪ Guy led Chalon back on to the road, casting another searching glance up at Isabel's closed face.
▪ Soul searching Look no further for a hot new boy band.
▪ The searching gaze was too much for Denis.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ a small man with a shrewd gaze
▪ Toni turned her gaze back to the fireplace.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Hinn focused his gaze on the opposite end of the stadium, near the top.
▪ It seemed that he had not heard Garland's little speech but his gaze came round eventually.
▪ It was that bitter rivalry that led us to lift our gaze to space-but what we have seen has transfigured us.
▪ Nathan's gaze flickered over her, his own thoughts hidden behind eyes reflecting the soft glow of the bedhead lamp.
▪ She said nothing, but she met his gaze fully and did not veil her own.
▪ The full force of that old gaze.
▪ The tap-tap boy with the crooked gaze stood in the open doorway, grinning as usual.
▪ We look at each other, and then, drop our gaze to hide our confusion.