squint like a bag of nails: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  USUKAustraliainformalcolloquialhumorous
  • To narrow one's eyes in a hard, fierce, or unpleasant way; to look sullen, hostile, or grimacingly unattractive.
  • To have a pronounced squinting expression, often suggesting discomfort, suspicion, or an ugly facial appearance (figurative simile).

  Examples

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  • The teacher squinted like a bag of nails at the noisy students, clearly displeased with their behavior.

    La profesora entrecerró los ojos con una expresión dura hacia los estudiantes ruidosos, claramente descontenta con su comportamiento.

  • Whenever he’s upset, John tends to squint like a bag of nails, making everyone around him uncomfortable.

    Cada vez que está molesto, John suele entrecerrar los ojos con una expresión dura, lo que incomoda a quienes lo rodean.

  • She squinted like a bag of nails in the bright sunlight, trying to read the small print on the contract.

    Ella entrecerró los ojos ante la luz brillante, tratando de leer la letra pequeña del contrato.

  • You could tell he was annoyed because he squinted like a bag of nails when the meeting ran late again.

    Se podía notar que estaba molesto porque entrecerraba los ojos con una expresión dura cuando la reunión se prolongó otra vez.