にらめっこ

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

staring contest; staring game

A children's game where two people stare at each other; the first to laugh or look away loses.

• 子こ供どもたちがにらめっこをして遊あそんでいる。

  The children are playing a staring contest.

• にらめっこで笑わらったら負まけだよ。

  If you laugh during the staring contest, you lose.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

staring at something; gazing fixedly

Used figuratively for staring at something for a long time, often with a sense of being locked in a silent battle with the object.

• 締しめ切きり前まえは、一いち日にち中じゅうパソコンとにらめっこだ。

  Before the deadline, I spend all day staring at the computer screen.

• 時計とけいとにらめっこしながら電でん車しゃを待まった。

  I waited for the train while constantly glancing at the clock.