noun phrasepl: stern looks
olhar severo
1. a serious, disapproving, or angry facial expression characterized by a furrowed brow and tight lips
The teacher gave the student a stern look when he arrived late to class.
A professora dirigiu um olhar severo ao aluno quando ele chegou atrasado à aula.
2. a facial expression that conveys authority, seriousness, or disapproval without speaking
His stern look was enough to silence the noisy children immediately.
Seu olhar severo foi suficiente para silenciar as crianças barulhentas imediatamente.
In both American and Brazilian cultures, a stern look is a nonverbal communication tool often used by authority figures (teachers, parents, managers) to convey disapproval or establish discipline without speaking. It's considered more respectful in professional settings than verbal criticism and carries significant social weight in educational and hierarchical environments.
NYC Slang
the look (informal); stink eye (disapproving variant)
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →