5 ms·

(part 1/3) Let's put this to bed once and for all. The sentence under discussion is: > A woman in her forties sits on a bench, fixing the shrine with her gaze

by gdds 2y ago

(part 1/3) Let's put this to bed once and for all. The sentence under discussion is: > A woman in her forties sits on a bench, fixing the shrine with her gaze. The construction in this sentence is perfectly standard in both British and American English, documented by reputable dictionaries, and in common usage across contexts from tabloids and young adult fantasy to newspapers of record and literary fiction. Dictionaries: Several commenters have posted dictionary entries for related but distinct constructions like "fix a gaze on." Here are entries supporting the exact construction under discussion. 1. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fix-with https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fix-with 2. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fix%20(someone)%20with https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fix%20(someone)%2... 3. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fix https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/fix, definition 9: "If you fix someone with a particular kind of expression, you look at them in that way." - "He took her hand and fixed her with a look of deep concern. [VERB noun with noun]" - "He fixed me with a lopsided grin. [VERB noun with noun]" examples from other Collins entries: - "The man fixed his interrogator with a steady gaze and spoke quietly but firmly." (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/sentences/english/gaze https://www.collinsdictionary.com/sentences/english/gaze) - "He pulls his other hand towards his face and fixes me with an intense gaze that has been well practised." (https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/intense-gaze https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/inte...) 4. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fix#Verb https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fix#Verb, definition 1.1: "(Of a piercing look) to direct at someone." (note that definition 1, but not 1.1, is marked as obsolete) - "He fixed me with a sickly grin, and said, 'I told you it wouldn't work!'" - "She sniffed, too, comprehendingly, and fixed her son with a relentless eye." 5. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/fix_1 https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/englis..., idioms: "fix somebody with a look, stare, gaze, etc.: to look directly at somebody for a long time" - "He fixed her with an angry stare." 6. Examples from other dictionaries exhibiting the construction: - "To glare is to fix another with a hard, piercing stare" (https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=gaze https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=gaze) - "Aron Nimzowitsch, a contemporary of Alekhine’s, would smoke a noxious cigar and fix his opponent with a dread stare." (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/nimzowitsch https://www.dictionary.com/browse/nimzowitsch)

gdds 2y ago
(part 2/3) Examples from American newspapers: New York Times - He fixed me with a hard gaze and said: "I just gave you a $5,000 raise. Now tell me what happened." (https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/opinion/12friedman.html https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/opinion/12friedman.html) - She fixed him with a steely gaze and finished him off with a single line: "You, sir, are a cad." (https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/13/magazine/about-men-unhand-me-you-cad.html https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/13/magazine/about-men-unhand...) - Ms. Smith fixed him with a stony gaze. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/health/navajo-children-custody-fight.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/health/navajo-children-cu...) Washington Post - "Another student fixed his sweatsuit with a stinging gaze." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/27/as-a-kid-i-was-bullied-but-i-bullied-too-does-that-make-me-a-victim-or-an-aggressor/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/27/...) - "She fixed her interviewer with a direct gaze and rejected the idea that she is pursuing policies that are detrimental to public safety." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/26/rachael-rollins-us-attorney/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/26/rachael-rol...) - "Peskov was chatting over coffee here in Sochi with a few reporters, and he fixed them with a true-believer gaze as he described the Russia that will be revealed — especially to Americans viewing the world through Cold War-frosted glasses — as the flags are raised for the Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 7, 2014." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-expects-olympics-to-retool-its-image/2013/02/09/6ca8c3ee-72cd-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-expects-o...) Wall Street Journal - In an early scene in "To Have and Have Not" she fixed Mr. Bogart with a smoldering gaze that became known as "the Look." (https://www.wsj.com/articles/lauren-bacall-dies-at-age-89-1407891287 https://www.wsj.com/articles/lauren-bacall-dies-at-age-89-14...) - As he fixes the camera with a steady gaze, you can see the magnetic mystic he must have been. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303325204579465220818290460 https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303325204579465...) - The King fixed me with a serious look. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-american-ninja-warrior-the-future-of-sports-1464707294 https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-american-ninja-warrior-the-f...) USA Today - She fixed me with a hard look and shot back with a slap at (Geraldine) Ferraro. (in a quote: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2018/04/20/barbara-bush-family/535798002/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-rile...) - In the middle of dialogue, he turned, fixed them with a square stare and said, “Now pay attention to the play.” (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/15/nh-election-2022-altschiller-v-gargiulo-district-24-state-senate/8178603001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/15/nh-e...) - After setting the tone for their set with explosive performances of "Brenden Lechner" and "Moldy Cannoli" while wrapping the mike around his neck like a young Iggy Pop while fixing the crowd with a confrontational blank stare, Robbie Pfeffer announced, "We are Playboy Manbaby. Not to be confused with the drum circle." (https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/03/29/mcdowell-mountain-music-festival-concert-review/70630768/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/03/2...)

by gdds 2y ago

gdds 2y ago

(part 2/3) Examples from American newspapers: New York Times - He fixed me with a hard gaze and said: "I just gave you a $5,000 raise. Now tell me what happened." (https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/opinion/12friedman.html https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/12/opinion/12friedman.html) - She fixed him with a steely gaze and finished him off with a single line: "You, sir, are a cad." (https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/13/magazine/about-men-unhand-me-you-cad.html https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/13/magazine/about-men-unhand...) - Ms. Smith fixed him with a stony gaze. (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/health/navajo-children-custody-fight.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/health/navajo-children-cu...) Washington Post - "Another student fixed his sweatsuit with a stinging gaze." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/27/as-a-kid-i-was-bullied-but-i-bullied-too-does-that-make-me-a-victim-or-an-aggressor/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/27/...) - "She fixed her interviewer with a direct gaze and rejected the idea that she is pursuing policies that are detrimental to public safety." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/26/rachael-rollins-us-attorney/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/26/rachael-rol...) - "Peskov was chatting over coffee here in Sochi with a few reporters, and he fixed them with a true-believer gaze as he described the Russia that will be revealed — especially to Americans viewing the world through Cold War-frosted glasses — as the flags are raised for the Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 7, 2014." (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-expects-olympics-to-retool-its-image/2013/02/09/6ca8c3ee-72cd-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-expects-o...) Wall Street Journal - In an early scene in "To Have and Have Not" she fixed Mr. Bogart with a smoldering gaze that became known as "the Look." (https://www.wsj.com/articles/lauren-bacall-dies-at-age-89-1407891287 https://www.wsj.com/articles/lauren-bacall-dies-at-age-89-14...) - As he fixes the camera with a steady gaze, you can see the magnetic mystic he must have been. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303325204579465220818290460 https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303325204579465...) - The King fixed me with a serious look. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-american-ninja-warrior-the-future-of-sports-1464707294 https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-american-ninja-warrior-the-f...) USA Today - She fixed me with a hard look and shot back with a slap at (Geraldine) Ferraro. (in a quote: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2018/04/20/barbara-bush-family/535798002/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-rile...) - In the middle of dialogue, he turned, fixed them with a square stare and said, “Now pay attention to the play.” (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/15/nh-election-2022-altschiller-v-gargiulo-district-24-state-senate/8178603001/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/15/nh-e...) - After setting the tone for their set with explosive performances of "Brenden Lechner" and "Moldy Cannoli" while wrapping the mike around his neck like a young Iggy Pop while fixing the crowd with a confrontational blank stare, Robbie Pfeffer announced, "We are Playboy Manbaby. Not to be confused with the drum circle." (https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/03/29/mcdowell-mountain-music-festival-concert-review/70630768/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/03/2...)