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Her appearance drew a few admiring glances from the neighbouring camp fires, but Lisa was only aware – uncomfortably so – of Jake’s obsessive stare. She felt his eyes on her legs now and got up quickly, moving away towards the washrooms
'obsessive stare' doesn't work but I can't think of what would!
Jake is more than a creep - he's a pathetic sex offender who will eventually turn nastier - but Lisa has to put up with him. What words can I use to add menace to these sentences?
Comments
Unwavering
Focus
Inspection
Scrutiny
Study
Ogle
Leer
obtrusive
creepy
sly watchfulness
fixation
I'd change 'She felt his eyes on her legs', by the way - it's a physical impossibility.
Mrs B - it's quite possible to feel someone looking at you, but I'll consider that sentence again. I like 'sly watchfulness' and might use that later.
At this stage in my story I think Liz's 'unsettlng' fits the bill best - Lisa doesn't know Jake's history yet, and I want his fixation - another good work, thank you - to build up slowly.
All the other words are now logged in my notes for future reference - thanks again, all. XX
:-B
Not like you to be short of a word, Lizy )
Answers on a post card, please.
We are having a lovely time at the Roman-themed holiday resort. Mr Bear has taken to wearing a centurion's helmet hat with his ears poking through, which is rather fetching. The white sun screen on his snout makes him look a little odd though.
We hope to go to the woods later, as Mr Bear has had a small problem with his digestion, after eating too much Ancient Roman fish sauce with his chips.
Hope this card arrives home before we do.
Love,
Mr and Mrs Bear
she weaved her way between the other camp fires
or
she wove her way between the other camp fires
or something else entirely?
I put the words "weaved or wove" into Google and up popped a long spiel explaining that there are two different verbs involved i.e. weave and wove which has connotations of cloth weaving so I think weaved gives better meaning for the context you intend.
But I'm sure Mrs Bear will confirm the correct word and use.
Cambridge dictionary gives weaved as US English in this context.
Cambridge allows weaved as you have used it. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/weave#british-1-1-2 (see under Thesaurus)
The two meanings (the textile one, and the dodging one) have different historical roots, so that may explain the wove/weaved conundrum.
Thank you so much for your input.
Maybe others will use this thread for their own queries - unless I'm the only one who gets stuck for a word!
:-B
I have a number of dictionaries from very old to new.
I shall have to look at the online one - I am a bit of a dinosaur where books are concerned!