SuGoiSuす語彙すGrammar › N1 · 12 Inference and judgment
〜とばかりに: as if to say
N1 · 12 Inference and judgment
Says someone acts as though they were saying something, though they do not say it.
Plain form/command (often a quoted phrase) + とばかりに + action. Written and spoken. 〜と言わんばかりに is similar. The subject's attitude or emotion is shown through action.
Examples
彼女は、「もう我慢できない」とばかりに席を立った。
She stood up from her seat as if to say "I cannot stand this anymore."
犬は、早く散歩に行こうとばかりに、尻尾を振った。
The dog wagged its tail as if telling me to hurry up and go for a walk.