At a glance
～と言わんばかりの + Noun means "a [noun] as if to say ~". It describes a look, attitude or manner that clearly shows a message, even though the person does not actually say it.
「Quote」と言わんばかりの + Noun
彼は「早く帰れ」と言わんばかりの顔をした。 He made a face as if to say "Go home already."
How to form it
The "quote" is the unspoken message. It is usually in plain or casual form, and it can be a command or a question.
| Pattern | Attaches to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| と言わんばかりの + Noun | Quote + a noun it describes | 「関係ない」と言わんばかりの態度 |
| と言わんばかりに + Verb | Quote + an action it describes | 「早く」と言わんばかりに見る |
| と言わんばかりだ | Quote, at the end of a sentence | 「関係ない」と言わんばかりだった |
The quote can be written with 「」 or without them.
Register: common in writing and narration, and also heard in conversation.