phrasal/idiomatic verb (look + adverb) · formal
look askance (at)
/lʊk əˈskæns/look a·SKANCE
to look at someone or something with suspicion, disapproval, or distrust
Examples
“Local residents looked askance at the developer's sudden plans.”
“He was looked askance at for suggesting such an impractical idea.”
“Politicians often look askance at measures that threaten their power.”
Band 8 sentence
“Academics often looked askance at the simplistic policies proposed by populist politicians.”
Collocations
- look askance at a proposal
- be looked askance
Word family
Common mistakes
translate literally as 'nhìn askance' or use 'surprised'→use 'look askance (at)' to express suspicion/disapproval
Say it for a higher band
5be suspicious→6look at with suspicion→7+look askance at
Synonyms
regard with suspicion
give the side-eye
Easily confused
look down on
“They looked down on newcomers who couldn't speak the language.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In look …
Learn it with its set