Eyes, those windows to the soul, have always been the canvas of our emotions. They convey a multitude of feelings, from love to suspicion, joy to sorrow.
But let’s dive deeper into the world of idioms for eyes – expressions that go beyond the literal gaze and paint a vivid picture of the human experience.
Idioms for Eyes
See Eye to Eye
Meaning: Agreeing on something; having the same opinion.
In a Sentence: Despite their differences, the siblings managed to see eye to eye on the importance of family.
Eyes in the Back of One’s Head
Meaning: Having an uncanny ability to be aware of what is happening around, even if not directly visible.
In a Sentence: My grandmother always seemed to have eyes in the back of her head, catching me every time I tried to sneak a cookie from the jar.
Turn a Blind Eye
Meaning: Purposely ignoring something, typically a wrongdoing.
In a Sentence: The teacher decided to turn a blind eye to the students passing notes, knowing they were just sharing harmless jokes.
Keep an Eye on the Ball
Meaning: Staying focused on a particular task or goal.
In a Sentence: To succeed in the project, it’s essential to keep an eye on the ball and not get distracted by minor issues.
Have an Eagle Eye
Meaning: Having a keen and sharp ability to observe and notice details.
In a Sentence: The detective had an eagle eye, spotting the smallest clues that others might have overlooked.
All Eyes On
Meaning: Receiving full attention or scrutiny from others.
In a Sentence: As the artist unveiled their latest masterpiece, all eyes were on the intricate details and vibrant colors.
Catch Someone’s Eye
Meaning: Attracting someone’s attention.
In a Sentence: The dazzling display of fireworks never failed to catch everyone’s eye during the annual celebration.
Feast Your Eyes On
Meaning: To enjoy looking at something beautiful or impressive.
In a Sentence: Walking into the art gallery, visitors were invited to feast their eyes on a stunning collection of contemporary masterpieces.
In the Blink of an Eye
Meaning: Happening very quickly, in an instant.
In a Sentence: Life can change in the blink of an eye, so it’s crucial to cherish every moment.
With a Naked Eye
Meaning: Visible to the unaided eye, without the use of binoculars or telescopes.
In a Sentence: The comet was bright enough to be seen with a naked eye, creating a spectacle in the night sky.
Have Eyes Bigger Than One’s Stomach
Meaning: Taking more food than one can actually eat.
In a Sentence: At the buffet, I always end up with eyes bigger than my stomach, regretting my ambitious food choices.
Give Someone the Evil Eye
Meaning: Casting a malevolent or threatening look at someone.
In a Sentence: After the prank, John felt his friend give him the evil eye, silently promising payback.
Look Someone in the Eye
Meaning: Facing someone directly with honesty and sincerity.
In a Sentence: When apologizing, it’s important to look someone in the eye to convey genuine remorse.
A Sight for Sore Eyes
Meaning: A welcome and pleasant view, especially after a period of difficulty.
In a Sentence: After days of rain, the sunshine breaking through the clouds was a sight for sore eyes.
More Than Meets the Eye
Meaning: Something having a deeper or hidden meaning.
In a Sentence: The old bookshop seemed ordinary, but there was definitely more than meets the eye in its dusty corners.
Apple of One’s Eye
Meaning: Someone cherished and loved above all others.
In a Sentence: As a father, his daughter was the apple of his eye, and he would do anything to make her happy.
Eyes Like a Hawk
Meaning: Having exceptionally sharp eyesight or being very observant.
In a Sentence: The security guard had eyes like a hawk, ensuring no one could enter without proper authorization.
Close One’s Eyes To
Meaning: Deliberately ignoring or avoiding a particular situation.
In a Sentence: It’s not wise to close your eyes to the challenges; facing them is the only way to grow.
Cry One’s Eyes Out
Meaning: Crying intensely or for a prolonged period.
In a Sentence: After the heartbreaking movie, she had to excuse herself from the room to cry her eyes out.
Look Through Rose-Colored Glasses
Meaning: Seeing things in an overly optimistic or positive way.
In a Sentence: Even in difficult times, she had the ability to look through rose-colored glasses and find hope.
Turn a Jaundiced Eye
Meaning: Viewing something with suspicion or skepticism.
In a Sentence: The seasoned investigator would always turn a jaundiced eye towards new leads until thoroughly examined.
Eyes Glued To
Meaning: Watching something with intense focus and attention.
In a Sentence: As the thrilling game unfolded, everyone had their eyes glued to the screen, eager to see who would emerge victorious.
Look Daggers At
Meaning: Giving someone a fierce or angry look.
In a Sentence: When he accidentally spilled coffee on her favorite book, she couldn’t help but look daggers at him.
A Twinkle in One’s Eye
Meaning: An expression of excitement, mischief, or amusement in one’s gaze.
In a Sentence: As he shared his plans for the adventurous road trip, a twinkle appeared in his eye, revealing his enthusiasm.
Starry-Eyed
Meaning: Being naively optimistic or idealistic.
In a Sentence: Even after setbacks, she remained starry-eyed, believing in the possibility of a better future.
Look the Other Way
Meaning: Purposely ignoring or avoiding noticing something.
In a Sentence: Despite the questionable actions, some people prefer to look the other way, avoiding confrontation.
Diamond in the Rough
Meaning: Someone or something with great potential but lacking polish or refinement.
In a Sentence: Though initially shy, the new employee turned out to be a diamond in the rough, bringing fresh ideas to the team.
Behind Closed Doors
Meaning: Happening in private or secretly.
In a Sentence: Behind closed doors, the team discussed their innovative ideas without the fear of judgment.
Bat an Eye
Meaning: Not showing any emotional reaction, especially in a surprising or shocking situation.
In a Sentence: Even when faced with unexpected news, she didn’t bat an eye, maintaining her calm demeanor.
Eyes Wide Shut
Meaning: Deliberately avoiding or ignoring the truth or reality.
In a Sentence: Some people live their lives with eyes wide shut, refusing to acknowledge the challenges they need to overcome.
Summary
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| See Eye to Eye | Agreeing on something; having the same opinion. |
| Eyes in the Back of One’s Head | Having an uncanny ability to be aware of what is happening around, even if not directly visible. |
| Turn a Blind Eye | Purposely ignoring something, typically a wrongdoing. |
| Keep an Eye on the Ball | Staying focused on a particular task or goal. |
| Have an Eagle Eye | Having a keen and sharp ability to observe and notice details. |
| All Eyes On | Receiving full attention or scrutiny from others. |
| Catch Someone’s Eye | Attracting someone’s attention. |
| Feast Your Eyes On | To enjoy looking at something beautiful or impressive. |
| In the Blink of an Eye | Happening very quickly, in an instant. |
| With a Naked Eye | Visible to the unaided eye, without the use of binoculars or telescopes. |
| Have Eyes Bigger Than One’s Stomach | Taking more food than one can actually eat. |
| Give Someone the Evil Eye | Casting a malevolent or threatening look at someone. |
| Look Someone in the Eye | Facing someone directly with honesty and sincerity. |
| A Sight for Sore Eyes | A welcome and pleasant view, especially after a period of difficulty. |
| More Than Meets the Eye | Something having a deeper or hidden meaning. |
| Apple of One’s Eye | Someone cherished and loved above all others. |
| Eyes Like a Hawk | Having exceptionally sharp eyesight or being very observant. |
| Close One’s Eyes To | Deliberately ignoring or avoiding a particular situation. |
| Cry One’s Eyes Out | Crying intensely or for a prolonged period. |
| Look Through Rose-Colored Glasses | Seeing things in an overly optimistic or positive way. |
| Turn a Jaundiced Eye | Viewing something with suspicion or skepticism. |
| Eyes Glued To | Watching something with intense focus and attention. |
| Look Daggers At | Giving someone a fierce or angry look. |
| A Twinkle in One’s Eye | An expression of excitement, mischief, or amusement in one’s gaze. |
| Starry-Eyed | Being naively optimistic or idealistic. |
| Look the Other Way | Purposely ignoring or avoiding noticing something. |
| Diamond in the Rough | Someone or something with great potential but lacking polish or refinement. |
| Behind Closed Doors | Happening in private or secretly. |
| Bat an Eye | Not showing any emotional reaction, especially in a surprising or shocking situation. |
| Eyes Wide Shut | Deliberately avoiding or ignoring the truth or reality. |
Conclusion
The expressions we use to describe our eyes go beyond mere anatomy; they encapsulate the richness of human experience.