To regard oneself as superior to someone or something and thus act in a haughty or snobbish manner. The well-dressed businessman looked down his nose at the homeless man sitting on the corner.Once Jane was promoted to management, she looked down her nose at the people who used to be her colleagues.
COMMON If someone looks down their nose at a thing or person, they regard that thing or person as inferior and treat them with disrespect. I get the impression they look down their noses at people who are not dressed in expensive labels.I thought he'd look down his nose at pop music. Note: You use this expression to show that you disapprove of this attitude.
(informal, especially British English) behave in a way that suggests that you think that you are better than somebody, or that something is not good enough for you: Why do you always look down your nose at people who have less money than you?
To regard or treat someone with disdain. One writer suggests that this term comes from a customary attitude of disapproval shown by lowering the eyelids and looking downward, thereby focusing on one’s own nose. This explanation does not jibe with the body language involved in turn up one’s nose, yet both expressions involve contempt or disdain, and indeed, to look down on has meant expressing contempt from about 1700; nose was added about 1900. “He went in to look down his nose at them—it might give him some faint satisfaction,” wrote John Galsworthy (To Let, 1921).
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.