staring contest
A 'staring contest' is a simple yet challenging game often played to test concentration and willpower.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B1Leisure
(informal)A game where two people maintain eye contact for as long as possible; the first to blink or look away loses.
Example
- They decided to settle their argument with a staring contest.
- The children had a staring contest to see who would win the last piece of candy.
B2Metaphorical
(informal)A situation where neither party is willing to back down or compromise.
Example
- The negotiation turned into a staring contest, with neither side willing to make concessions.
- Their disagreement felt like a staring contest, with both refusing to budge.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "staring contest":