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Word(s) to describe the emotion behind disappointedly looking over ones glasses?

English Language & Usage Asked by Scott Thiessen on August 5, 2021

Let’s say a friend asks a particularly dumb question (e.g., "what’s the phone number for 1-800-Flowers?"), and you just stare at them with a look that says "you’ve got to be kidding me."

There’s definitely surprise and disappointment in the look, but with a little amusement and condescension mixed in.

Are there are any words that succinctly describe this look/emotion?

Thanks!

6 Answers

to give someone a quizzical look.

expressive of puzzlement, curiosity or disbelief

quizzical

Examples: But in general, as befits a covert operative, his tone is quizzical and low-key, rather than bombastic and judgmental. For anyone schooled in blackboard economics, "The Undercover Economist" succeeds in taking the chalk dust out of the subject. The Economist

It makes up for the quizzical glances that leap my way when I stow away on scriptwriting courses or lectures on psychology. The Guardian

Ludwid guru is a great tool! See the two examples above.

Correct answer by Lambie on August 5, 2021

A single word term fitting that definition is not likely to be be found in any dictionary; however, there seems to be no problem in finding two-word compounds. Here is one that would do.

  • benign bemusement (with benign bemusement)

(This one is a rather well known collocation (ngram).)

Answered by LPH on August 5, 2021

Perhaps "askance" would aptly portray it as a "look of incredible disbelief" (Are you serious...?).

TFD - askance

Answered by user22542 on August 5, 2021

There's no way to predict what emotions lurk in the heart of a speaker.
But if something is accurately describable as "disappointedly looking over one's glasses",
then I think there's no reason not to speak of "the emotion behind" it as disappointment.

Answered by John Lawler on August 5, 2021

Looking or peering over one's glasses is a non-verbal gesture for which there are no words — except to describe the action. The gesture conveys a sense of criticism, derision, or judgement. Body Language For Dummies describes it like this:

If someone peers over the tops of her glasses at you, don't be surprised if you feel scrutinised. Peering down on another person conveys a critical or judgemental attitude. The glasses underscore or highlight the action.
Source:Body Language For Dummies

The good news is that while helpful, the glasses are not necessary for this gesture, or the gesture you describe that includes surprise and amusement. Minus the glasses, the adjective bemused (or the noun bemusement) works quite well here: a bemused look (a look of bemusement).

In addition to a sense of surprise and amusement, the word embodies a facial expression that expresses mockery or derision:

bemused adjective
3 : having or showing feelings of wry amusement especially from something that is surprising or perplexing

wry adjective
2 : made by a deliberate distortion of the facial muscles often to express irony or mockery

Source: Merriam-Webster

See results from Corpus of Contemporary American English for bemused look. Of course, bemused has other senses too, so not all of those entries may apply, but here's one example:

28: And who can forget the bemused look on Ravi Shankar's face as he watched George Harrison struggle to control the sitar?

For reference, here is an image of something like what you described in your question:

A man looking over his glasses with a furrowed brow, captioned with: You have to be kidding me.
Source: Memes Monkey

Putting it all together, perhaps:

He peered over his glasses with a bemused look.

 

Answered by Tinfoil Hat on August 5, 2021

Quite literally, one is looking down one's nose at the other person.

(Lexico powered by Oxford)

regard (someone) with a feeling of superiority.

Answered by GArthurBrown on August 5, 2021

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