English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms Body: Eyes, Eyebrows and Eyelids
from: 'apple of your eye'
to: 'up to your eyes'
- apple of your eye
- A person, usually a child, who is the apple of your eye is one for whom you have great affection.
"My grandson is the apple of my eye."
- A person, usually a child, who is the apple of your eye is one for whom you have great affection.
- in the blink of an eye
- If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.
"The pickpocket disappeared in the blink of an eye."
- If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it.
- catch someone's eye
- If someone catches your eye, you find them attractive.
"The pretty girl near the door caught his eye."
- If someone catches your eye, you find them attractive.
- half an eye
- If you have or keep half an eye on something, you watch it without giving it your full attention.
"She kept half an eye on the TV screen while she was preparing dinner."
- If you have or keep half an eye on something, you watch it without giving it your full attention.
- (have) eyes in the back of one's head
- If someone has eyes in the back of their head,
they are very observant and notice everything happening around them.
"You need to have eyes in the back of your head to look after young children."
- If someone has eyes in the back of their head,
they are very observant and notice everything happening around them.
- (have) eyes like a hawk
- A person who has eyes like a hawk, or who is hawk-eyed, is very observant and
notices everything that happens.
"Nobody gets away with stealing in this shop - the store detective has eyes like a hawk!"
"If you play golf with Andy, you’ll never lose your ball – he’s got eyes like a hawk!"
- A person who has eyes like a hawk, or who is hawk-eyed, is very observant and
notices everything that happens.
- in the eye of the storm
- A person or organisation who is in the eye of the storm is deeply involved in a difficult situation which affects a lot of people.
"The minister was often in the eye of the storm during the debate on the tax reform."
- A person or organisation who is in the eye of the storm is deeply involved in a difficult situation which affects a lot of people.
- in one mind's eye
- If you can visualise something, or see an image of it in your mind, you can see it in your mind's eye.
"I can see the village in my mind's eye but I can't remember the name."
- If you can visualise something, or see an image of it in your mind, you can see it in your mind's eye.
- in the twinkling of an eye
- The expression 'in the twinkling of an eye' means 'very fast' or 'instantaneously'.
"Public opinion can change in the twinkling of an eye."
- The expression 'in the twinkling of an eye' means 'very fast' or 'instantaneously'.
- look someone in the eye
- If you look someone in the eye, or eyes, you look at them directly so as to convince them that you are telling the truth,
even though you may be lying.
"He looked the boss in the eye and said he had noticed nothing unusual."
- If you look someone in the eye, or eyes, you look at them directly so as to convince them that you are telling the truth,
even though you may be lying.
- more than meets the eye
- This expression means that something is more complicated or more interesting than it first appears.
"They say it's just a disagreement, but we think there's more to it than meets the eye."
- This expression means that something is more complicated or more interesting than it first appears.
- one in the eye
- If an event or development is an unexpected disappointment or defeat for someone, you can say that it is one in the eye for that person.
"My promotion was one in the eye for my ambitious colleague."
- If an event or development is an unexpected disappointment or defeat for someone, you can say that it is one in the eye for that person.
- see eye to eye
- If you see eye to eye with somebody, you agree with them.
"I'm glad we see eye to eye on the choice of colour scheme."
- If you see eye to eye with somebody, you agree with them.
- spit in someone's eye
- If you spit in someone's eye, you treat that person with disrespect or contempt.
"Your father raised you as best he could. Don't start spitting in his eye."
- If you spit in someone's eye, you treat that person with disrespect or contempt.
- turn a blind eye
- If you turn a blind eye to something, you pretend not to notice what someone is doing.
"The old man turns a blind eye when he sees children taking apples from his garden."
- If you turn a blind eye to something, you pretend not to notice what someone is doing.
- before your very eye
- If someone does something before your very eyes, they do it in front of you, without attempting to hide what they are doing.
"He took the rubbish and, before my very eyes, he threw it into the neighbour's garden!"
- If someone does something before your very eyes, they do it in front of you, without attempting to hide what they are doing.
- eagle eyes
- Someone who has eagle eyes see or notices things more easily than others.
"Tony will help us find it - he's got eagle eyes!"
- Someone who has eagle eyes see or notices things more easily than others.
- eyes like a hawk
- If you've got eyes like a hawk, you have
extremely good eyesight and notice every detail.
"Of course Dad will notice the scratch on his car - he's got eyes like a hawk."
- If you've got eyes like a hawk, you have
extremely good eyesight and notice every detail.
- eyes on stalks
- If your eyes are on stalks when you look at something, they are wide open with surprise or amazement.
"The child's eyes were on stalks as he watch the magician's performance."
- If your eyes are on stalks when you look at something, they are wide open with surprise or amazement.
- eyes wide open
- If you do somethingwith your eyes (wide) open, you are fully aware of what you are doing.
"I took on the job with my eyes wide open so I'm not complaining."
- If you do somethingwith your eyes (wide) open, you are fully aware of what you are doing.
- feast one's eyes on (something)
- If you feast your eyes on something, you are delighted and gratified by what you see.
"As he drove along the coast, he feasted his eyes on the beautiful scenery."
- If you feast your eyes on something, you are delighted and gratified by what you see.
- lay/set/clap eyes on
- If you lay/set/clap eyes on someone or something, you look at or see them.
"I've heard of him but I've never clapped eyes on him."
- If you lay/set/clap eyes on someone or something, you look at or see them.
- (a) sight for sore eyes
- The expression 'a sight for sore eyes'refers to a person or thing that you are happy to see.
"Sam! You're a sight for sore eyes! I haven't seen you in a long time!"
- The expression 'a sight for sore eyes'refers to a person or thing that you are happy to see.
- raise eyebrows
- Someone who raises their eyebrows at something shows surprise or disapproval by the expression on their face.
"When the boss arrived in jeans, there were a lot of raised eyebrows."
- Someone who raises their eyebrows at something shows surprise or disapproval by the expression on their face.
- not bat an eyelid
- To say that someone does not bat an eyelid means that they do not seem shocked or surprised, nor are they nervous or worried. They show no emotion.
"When the sentence was pronounced, the prisoner didn't bat an eyelid."
- To say that someone does not bat an eyelid means that they do not seem shocked or surprised, nor are they nervous or worried. They show no emotion.
- up to your eyes
- Someone who is up to their eyes is extremely busy doing or dealing with something.
"We can't ask Amanda to help. She's up to her eyes with the wedding arrangements."
- Someone who is up to their eyes is extremely busy doing or dealing with something.
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