とばかりに (tobakarini)

Meaning & usage

とばかりに describes a gesture, facial expression, or action that communicates an unspoken message without words, meaning as if saying what precedes it. It attaches to a plain form clause with と, such as 行くな, 行こう, 無駄だ, or 早く寝なさい, including plain imperatives and volitionals. The quoted part reflects the implied thought in plain style, so polite forms like ます are unnatural even when the situation itself is polite.

Example sentences 7

1. 彼かれは「もう終おわりだ」とばかりに荷物にもつをまとめて席せきを立たった。

   As if to say it was all over, he gathered his things and left his seat.

2. 彼女はこれ以上の話は無駄だとばかりに電話を切った。

   She hung up the phone as if to say that talking further was pointless.

3. 母は早く寝なさいとばかりに部屋の電気を消した。

   My mother turned off the room light as if to say, "Go to bed early."

4. 彼はもう来るなとばかりにドアを強く閉めた。

   He slammed the door shut as if to say, "Don't come here again."

5. 犬は散歩に行こうとばかりにリードをくわえた。

   The dog held the leash in its mouth as if to say, "Let's go for a walk."

6. 上司は文句があるのかとばかりに私を見た。

   My boss looked at me as if to say, "Do you have a complaint?"

7. 子どもは早く遊ぼうとばかりに外を指さした。

   The child pointed outside as if to say, "Let's go play now."