pointedly

[IQU3838]

Hi

This might be quite simple and obvious for English-native speaker, but for a non-native speaker like me, I can't grab the accurate meaning of "pointedly" in the following sentence.

Could anyone help me? Thank you very much.


“It’s a beautiful gown,” Peter says, looking pointedly at the skirt.

 

[Barb_D]

When you look at something "pointedly," you look will say something in addition to his words.

For example, I might say something about how nice the "scenery" is (the view, how pretty things look) while looking "pointedly" at a very good looking guy, as my way of saying "and it's full of good looking guys, too." Or I can say it sarcastically, and say "And the buffet is full of healthy choices" while looking pointedly at the desserts.

I imagine the skirt is rather short and shows off a lot of her legs, so he finds the "beauty" of the gown to be how much of the woman it exposes.

 

[Rover_KE]

IQU, note that you grasp the meaning, not grab it.

Rover