expression, ichidan verb
pierce someone with one's gaze
Literary or dramatic expression describing an intense, penetrating stare that seems to see through someone. Often used in narrative or descriptive contexts.
彼の眼光人を射るような視線に、思わずたじろいだ。
I involuntarily flinched at his gaze, which seemed to pierce right through me.
Describes sharp, piercing eyes as a state, while 眼光人を射る is a verbal phrase emphasizing the action of piercing someone with one's gaze.
A set phrase combining 眼光 (gleam of the eye) + 人を射る (pierce a person). The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a classical literary expression.