Looking askance at is an idiomatic phrase that means to view someone or something with suspicion or disapproval. The spelling of askance is pronounced /əˈskæns/ (uh-skans), with the stress on the second syllable. The letter 's' is pronounced as a voiceless sound, similar to the 's' in 'snake'. The 'c' is pronounced as a voiceless sound, like the 'k' in 'kite'. The 'a' is pronounced as a short vowel sound, like the 'a' in 'cat'. The spelling of askance may look confusing, but phonetically, it's quite simple.
Looking askance at:
When someone looks askance at something or someone, it implies viewing them with suspicion or disapproval, often with a sideways glance or a skeptical expression on their face. This idiom is derived from the literal meaning of the verb "askance," which means to look towards someone or something obliquely or sideways, rather than directly.
Looking askance at suggests a critical or skeptical attitude towards a particular person, action, idea, or situation. It implies a sense of doubt or wariness, as if the observer is not fully convinced or trusts what they are seeing or hearing. This idiom usually conveys a negative connotation, highlighting an element of doubt, mistrust, or disapproval in the observer's outlook.
To look askance at something can often manifest in subtle nonverbal cues such as raised eyebrows, narrowed eyes, or a slightly turned head. However, it can also be expressed through direct verbal expressions or through one's tone of voice. This idiom serves as a manner of conveying one's skepticism or wariness without explicitly stating it. The act of looking askance at something signifies a person's discerning nature, their readiness to question or challenge what they perceive, and their reluctance to accept things at face value.