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Eddweirdo Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

askance

Is the use of 'in' correct in the following sentence? "The clerk looked down his long Gallic nose in askance at the gentleman in front of him." I can find no use of 'in' along with askance in the dictionary, etc, but it just does not feel right without it. Thanks in advance. Ed
  

Top answer

it should simply be: the clerk looked in askance at the gentleman in front of him. i am not sure but it can also be like: the clerk looked down upon his nose in askance at the gentleman in front of him.

— Mkkhan

  • it should simply be: the clerk looked in askance at the gentleman in front of him.
  • i am not sure but it can also be like: the clerk looked down upon his nose in askance at the gentleman in front of him.
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3 Answers
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it should simply be: the clerk looked in askance at the gentleman in front of him.
i am not sure but it can also be like:
the clerk looked down upon his nose in askance at the gentleman in front of him.
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Hi eddweirdo, and welcome to English Forums.

I think you can either look down your nose, or you can look askance, but not both in the same sentence. Or at least, not both in the same clause. (It's a bit like CalifJim's "She left in a Corvette and a bad mood." One is where you look and the other is your expression. You can't use the same "look" for both.

Try something like "The cl
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Grammar GeekI think you can either look down your nose, or you can look askance, but not both in the same sentence.
I agree -- and note, it's "askance," not "in askance," and "down one's nose," not "down upon one's nose."
Grammar Geekhis long Gallis nose
Gallic?
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