glaze-over
/ɡleɪz ˈəʊvə/ IELTSAcademic
verb
If someone's eyes glaze over, they look dull and unfocused, often because they are bored, tired, or confused. It can also mean that a subject becomes hard to understand or people stop paying attention.
- His eyes glazed over during the long meeting.
- My mind glazed over after the third explanation.
- The students glazed over at the technical details.
Adinary Nuance
Glaze-over is about losing attention or looking mentally blank. It is stronger and more visual than "lose interest". It is different from "zone out", which often sounds more casual and temporary. Writers use it when they want to show boredom, confusion, or mental overload.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lờ đờ
- Spanish
- poner la mirada vidriosa
- Chinese
- 眼神呆滞
- Japanese
- 目がうつろになる
- Korean
- 멍해지다
Etymology
Glaze-over comes from the verb glaze, meaning to cover with a glassy layer. The image is of eyes becoming shiny and unfocused. This use became common in modern English.
Common phrases
eyes glaze overmake someone's eyes glaze overglaze over at the details
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is glaze over formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in speech and writing. It is often used in descriptions, reviews, and teaching.
- What is the difference between glaze over and zone out?
- Glaze over usually describes the look in someone's eyes or their reaction. Zone out is more about the person mentally drifting away.
- Can I say the topic made me glaze over?
- Yes, that is natural. It means the topic became boring or too hard to follow.
- Is glaze over used in IELTS writing?
- Yes, but use it carefully. It fits descriptive writing better than very formal academic writing.