Eyes are more than just windows to the soul; they’re a playground for language! Have you ever wondered what people mean when they say someone has “eagle eyes” or when they advise you to “keep an eye out”?
In this guide, we’ll unravel the mysteries behind common idioms related to eyes. So, let’s open our eyes wide and explore the world of eye-related expressions!
What is an idiom for eyes?
Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They have hidden meanings known to native speakers.
When it comes to eyes, idioms paint vivid pictures. Let’s dive into the meaning behind each phrase:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Turn a blind eye | Ignore something intentionally | Although she knew about the surprise party, she decided to turn a blind eye and act surprised. |
| See eye to eye | Agree on something | Despite their differences, the team managed to see eye to eye on the final design. |
| Keep an eye out | Watch for something or someone | While hiking, always keep an eye out for trail markers to avoid getting lost. |
| In the blink of an eye | Happening very quickly | The magician made the rabbit disappear in the blink of an eye. |
| Catch someone’s eye | Attract someone’s attention | The colorful artwork in the gallery immediately caught her eye. |
| Have an eye for | Be good at recognizing or choosing | She has an eye for selecting the best ingredients for her recipes. |
| Feast your eyes on | Look at something with great pleasure | As she entered the museum, she couldn’t wait to feast her eyes on the stunning art collection. |
| Apple of the eye | A person who is cherished above all others | Grandma always said her youngest grandson was the apple of her eye. |
| Eyes in the back of your head | Being very aware of what is happening around you | Moms seem to have eyes in the back of their heads, knowing when you’re up to something. |
| All eyes on | Everyone is watching or paying attention | When the performer took the stage, all eyes were on him. |
| Eagle eye | Having a keen and sharp vision | The detective’s eagle eye spotted the tiny clue that solved the case. |
| See the world through rose-colored glasses | See things in a positive light | Despite the challenges, she always sees the world through rose-colored glasses. |
| Beauty is in the eye of the beholder | Different people find different things attractive | Art is subjective; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. |
| An eye for an eye | The idea of revenge, getting back at someone | Some believe in justice; others believe in an eye for an eye. |
| Cry your eyes out | Cry intensely | After the sad movie, she needed a tissue – she cried her eyes out. |
| More than meets the eye | There is more to something than it seems | The mysterious old book had more than meets the eye. |
| Have your eye on the prize | Focused on winning or achieving a goal | Despite the challenges, she kept her eye on the prize and succeeded. |
| Eyes like a hawk | Extremely sharp or vigilant eyes | The security guard had eyes like a hawk, catching every movement. |
| A twinkle in one’s eye | A joyful or mischievous expression | When he talked about his favorite hobby, there was a twinkle in his eye. |
| Turn a cold eye on | Show disapproval or lack of interest | The teacher had to turn a cold eye on cheating during exams. |
| Look someone in the eye | Be honest and sincere | When making promises, it’s important to look someone in the eye. |
| Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed | Energetic and enthusiastic | Despite the early morning, she arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the adventure. |
| As clear as day | Very clear and easy to understand | The instructions were as clear as day, making the task straightforward. |
| Look with new eyes | View something with a fresh perspective | Traveling allows you to look with new eyes at different cultures. |
| Eyes are bigger than one’s stomach | Taking more food than one can eat | At the buffet, his eyes were bigger than his stomach, and he couldn’t finish the meal. |
| In the public eye | Being known or observed by the public | Celebrities often find it challenging to live their lives in the public eye. |
| With one eye open | Be cautious or wary | After the spooky movie, he slept with one eye open, fearing monsters under the bed. |
Metaphors can describe eyes in various ways, like comparing them to windows to the soul, revealing our innermost feelings. To explore more metaphors for eyes, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Eyes. Similarly, similes offer comparisons that make eyes more relatable, such as saying they are as bright as stars in the night sky. Discover additional similes for eyes here: Similes for Eyes.
Idioms for Eyes
1. Turn a blind eye
Meaning: To ignore something intentionally.
In a Sentence: Although she knew about the surprise party, she decided to turn a blind eye and act surprised.
2. See eye to eye
Meaning: To agree on something.
In a Sentence: Despite their differences, the team managed to see eye to eye on the final design.
3. Keep an eye out
Meaning: To watch for something or someone.
In a Sentence: While hiking, always keep an eye out for trail markers to avoid getting lost.
4. In the blink of an eye
Meaning: Happening very quickly.
In a Sentence: The magician made the rabbit disappear in the blink of an eye.
5. Catch someone’s eye
Meaning: Attract someone’s attention.
In a Sentence: The colorful artwork in the gallery immediately caught her eye.
6. Have an eye for
Meaning: To be good at recognizing or choosing.
In a Sentence: She has an eye for selecting the best ingredients for her recipes.
7. Feast your eyes on
Meaning: To look at something with great pleasure.
In a Sentence: As she entered the museum, she couldn’t wait to feast her eyes on the stunning art collection.
8. Apple of the eye
Meaning: A person who is cherished above all others.
In a Sentence: Grandma always said her youngest grandson was the apple of her eye.
9. Eyes in the back of your head
Meaning: Being very aware of what is happening around you.
In a Sentence: Moms seem to have eyes in the back of their heads, knowing when you’re up to something.
10. All eyes on
Meaning: Everyone is watching or paying attention.
In a Sentence: When the performer took the stage, all eyes were on him.
11. Eagle eye
Meaning: Having a keen and sharp vision.
In a Sentence: The detective’s eagle eye spotted the tiny clue that solved the case.
12. See the world through rose-colored glasses
Meaning: To see things in a positive light.
In a Sentence: Despite the challenges, she always sees the world through rose-colored glasses.
13. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Meaning: Different people find different things attractive.
In a Sentence: Art is subjective; beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
14. An eye for an eye
Meaning: The idea of revenge, getting back at someone.
In a Sentence: Some believe in justice; others believe in an eye for an eye.
15. Cry your eyes out
Meaning: To cry intensely.
In a Sentence: After the sad movie, she needed a tissue – she cried her eyes out.
16. More than meets the eye
Meaning: There is more to something than it seems.
In a Sentence: The mysterious old book had more than meets the eye.
17. Have your eye on the prize
Meaning: Focused on winning or achieving a goal.
In a Sentence: Despite the challenges, she kept her eye on the prize and succeeded.
18. Eyes like a hawk
Meaning: Extremely sharp or vigilant eyes.
In a Sentence: The security guard had eyes like a hawk, catching every movement.
19. A twinkle in one’s eye
Meaning: A joyful or mischievous expression.
In a Sentence: When he talked about his favorite hobby, there was a twinkle in his eye.
20. Turn a cold eye on
Meaning: To show disapproval or lack of interest.
In a Sentence: The teacher had to turn a cold eye on cheating during exams.
21. Look someone in the eye
Meaning: To be honest and sincere.
In a Sentence: When making promises, it’s important to look someone in the eye.
22. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Meaning: Energetic and enthusiastic.
In a Sentence: Despite the early morning, she arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the adventure.
23. As clear as day
Meaning: Very clear and easy to understand.
In a Sentence: The instructions were as clear as day, making the task straightforward.
24. Look with new eyes
Meaning: To view something with a fresh perspective.
In a Sentence: Traveling allows you to look with new eyes at different cultures.
25. Eyes are bigger than one’s stomach
Meaning: Taking more food than one can eat.
In a Sentence: At the buffet, his eyes were bigger than his stomach, and he couldn’t finish the meal.
26. In the public eye
Meaning: Being known or observed by the public.
In a Sentence: Celebrities often find it challenging to live their lives in the public eye.
27. With one eye open
Meaning: To be cautious or wary.
In a Sentence: After the spooky movie, he slept with one eye open, fearing monsters under the bed.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1: Turn a Blind Eye
- What does the idiom “Turn a Blind Eye” mean?
- a. Act surprised
- b. Ignore something intentionally
- c. Agree on something
- d. Cry intensely
- Can you use “Turn a Blind Eye” in a sentence?
Quiz 2: See Eye to Eye
- What is the meaning of the idiom “See Eye to Eye”?
- a. Attract someone’s attention
- b. Agree on something
- c. Watch for something or someone
- d. Happening very quickly
- Form a sentence using the expression “See Eye to Eye.”
Quiz 3: Keep an Eye Out
- Define the idiom “Keep an Eye Out.”
- a. Extremely sharp or vigilant eyes
- b. To watch for something or someone
- c. To be honest and sincere
- d. Energetic and enthusiastic
- Provide an example sentence with “Keep an Eye Out.”
Quiz 4: In the Blink of an Eye
- What does the phrase “In the Blink of an Eye” mean?
- a. Look at something with great pleasure
- b. Cry intensely
- c. Happening very quickly
- d. Attract someone’s attention
- Construct a sentence using “In the Blink of an Eye.”
Quiz 5: Catch Someone’s Eye
- Explain the meaning of “Catch Someone’s Eye.”
- a. Be good at recognizing or choosing
- b. Show disapproval or lack of interest
- c. Attract someone’s attention
- d. View something with a fresh perspective
- Create a sentence incorporating “Catch Someone’s Eye.”
Quiz 6: Feast Your Eyes On
- What does “Feast Your Eyes On” mean?
- a. Agree on something
- b. To look at something with great pleasure
- c. Ignore something intentionally
- d. See things in a positive light
- Utilize “Feast Your Eyes On” in a sentence.
Quiz 7: Apple of the Eye
- Define the expression “Apple of the Eye.”
- a. Be cautious or wary
- b. A person who is cherished above all others
- c. Cry intensely
- d. To be honest and sincere
- Form a sentence using “Apple of the Eye.”
Quiz 8: Eagle Eye
- What is the meaning of “Eagle Eye”?
- a. Having a keen and sharp vision
- b. Watch for something or someone
- c. To see things in a positive light
- d. To be good at recognizing or choosing
- Create a sentence incorporating “Eagle Eye.”
Quiz 9: Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
- Explain the idiom “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.”
- a. Different people find different things attractive
- b. Ignore something intentionally
- c. Focused on winning or achieving a goal
- d. Extremely sharp or vigilant eyes
- Use “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder” in a sentence.
Quiz 10: Cry Your Eyes Out
- What does the phrase “Cry Your Eyes Out” mean?
- a. To watch for something or someone
- b. To cry intensely
- c. Show disapproval or lack of interest
- d. Happening very quickly
- Provide an example sentence with “Cry Your Eyes Out.”
Conclusion
Now you’ve got a clearer picture of these eye-related idioms. Next time you hear someone say they have “eyes like a hawk” or that something happened “in the blink of an eye,” you’ll know exactly what they mean.
