1eye 
/ˈaɪ/ noun
plural eyes /ˈaɪ/ noun 1 [count] : the part of the body that you see with
▪ Her eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark. ▪ He wears a patch over one eye. ▪ I have something in my eye. ▪ He has (a pair of) bright blue eyes. ▪ bright/sad/sleepy eyes ▪ She has good/strong/bad/weak eyes. [=eyesight] ▪ Her eyes lit up [=she looked excited and happy] when he showed her the ring. ▪ His eyes were popping out of his head with astonishment [=he looked very astonished] when he saw how big it was! ▪ He punched him right between the eyes. [=punched him hard in the face] ▪ She looked me (right) in the eye [=she looked directly at me] and told me I was fired. ▪ The garden is a feast for the eyes. [=the garden is very beautiful] ▪ The display was very pleasing to the eye. [=pleasing to look at] ▪ I measured the distance by eye. = I measured the distance with my eye. [=by looking at it to get a rough idea of its size] ▪ Their daughter came home from school with tears in her eyes. [=she was crying] ▪ Seeing her again brought tears to my eyes. = Seeing her again brought a tear to my eye. [=made me shed tears] ▪ He had/kept half an eye on [=he occasionally looked at] the TV while he read the paper. 2 [singular] a : an ability to understand and appreciate something seen
▪ Only a trained eye can tell the difference between the original painting and a good copy. ▪ For decorating, they rely on her discerning/discriminating/expert eye. ▪ He has an artist's eye for color. ◊If you have an eye for something or a good/keen/sharp eye for something, you have a special ability to recognize a particular thing or quality.
▪ He has a keen eye for detail. ▪ He has a good eye for quality.
b — used to describe the way something looks to you ▪ It looks a little awkward to my eye. [=it looks awkward to me]
c : a way of looking at or judging something
▪ He reviewed the proposal with a jaundiced/critical eye. ▪ The biographer cast a cold/critical/skeptical eye on the artist's life. 3 [count] — used to describe where someone is looking ▪ Her eye was attracted to the bright colors in the painting. ▪ She dropped her eyes [=she looked down] when he looked at her. = Her eyes fell when he looked at her. ▪ He averted his eyes [=he looked away] when she approached him. ▪ I saw something moving out of the corner of my eye. [=to the side of where I was looking] ▪ Her eyes fell on [=she noticed] a piece of evidence no one had noticed before. ▪ All eyes were on her [=everyone was looking at her] as she entered the room. ▪ She fixed her eyes on me [=she kept looking or staring at me] for a long time before answering. 4 [count] : a way of looking at or thinking about something
▪ We need to look at this problem with a fresh eye. [=to look at the problem in a new way] ▪ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. [=different people have different ideas about what is beautiful] — often plural ▪ He was guilty in the eyes of the police. [=the police considered him guilty] ▪ He was handsome in her eyes. [=she thought he was handsome] ▪ In the eyes [=opinion] of many, he is the best person for the job. 5 [count] : the hole through the top of a needle
▪ the eye of a needle 6 [count] : a loop that a hook fits into to fasten or attach something 7 [count] : an area on a potato from which a new plant can grow : a bud on a potato 8 [count] : the center of a storm (such as a hurricane) where there is little wind or rain and sometimes there is clear sky
▪ The eye of the storm should reach the coast by morning.
▪ Her eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark. ▪ He wears a patch over one eye. ▪ I have something in my eye. ▪ He has (a pair of) bright blue eyes. ▪ bright/sad/sleepy eyes ▪ She has good/strong/bad/weak eyes. [=eyesight] ▪ Her eyes lit up [=she looked excited and happy] when he showed her the ring. ▪ His eyes were popping out of his head with astonishment [=he looked very astonished] when he saw how big it was! ▪ He punched him right between the eyes. [=punched him hard in the face] ▪ She looked me (right) in the eye [=she looked directly at me] and told me I was fired. ▪ The garden is a feast for the eyes. [=the garden is very beautiful] ▪ The display was very pleasing to the eye. [=pleasing to look at] ▪ I measured the distance by eye. = I measured the distance with my eye. [=by looking at it to get a rough idea of its size] ▪ Their daughter came home from school with tears in her eyes. [=she was crying] ▪ Seeing her again brought tears to my eyes. = Seeing her again brought a tear to my eye. [=made me shed tears] ▪ He had/kept half an eye on [=he occasionally looked at] the TV while he read the paper.
▪ Only a trained eye can tell the difference between the original painting and a good copy. ▪ For decorating, they rely on her discerning/discriminating/expert eye. ▪ He has an artist's eye for color. ◊If you have an eye for something or a good/keen/sharp eye for something, you have a special ability to recognize a particular thing or quality.
▪ He has a keen eye for detail. ▪ He has a good eye for quality.
b — used to describe the way something looks to you ▪ It looks a little awkward to my eye. [=it looks awkward to me]
c : a way of looking at or judging something
▪ He reviewed the proposal with a jaundiced/critical eye. ▪ The biographer cast a cold/critical/skeptical eye on the artist's life.
▪ We need to look at this problem with a fresh eye. [=to look at the problem in a new way] ▪ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. [=different people have different ideas about what is beautiful] — often plural ▪ He was guilty in the eyes of the police. [=the police considered him guilty] ▪ He was handsome in her eyes. [=she thought he was handsome] ▪ In the eyes [=opinion] of many, he is the best person for the job.
▪ the eye of a needle
▪ The eye of the storm should reach the coast by morning.
all eyes
: watching something or someone closely : very attentive
▪ She was all eyes as I opened the box.
▪ She was all eyes as I opened the box.
an eye for an eye or an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
— used to say that a person who has committed a crime should be given punishment that is the same as or as serious as the crime ▪ The ancient code of law called for punishment in the form of an eye for an eye.
as far as the eye could see
: as far as could be seen
▪ The crowd stretched away as far as the eye could see.
▪ The crowd stretched away as far as the eye could see.
a sight for sore eyes — see 1sight
a twinkle in your eye — see 1twinkle
bawl your eyes out — see bawl
before your eyes or in front of your eyes
◊If something happens (right) before your eyes or in front of your (very) eyes, it happens in a very open and visible way so that you can see it very clearly.
▪ Technology is changing right before our eyes. ▪ We were watching a disaster take place in front of our very eyes.
▪ Technology is changing right before our eyes. ▪ We were watching a disaster take place in front of our very eyes.
can't believe your eyes — see believe
cast/run your eye over
: to read it or look at (something) quickly.
▪ Please run your eye over this and let me know what you think. ▪ She cast her eye over the apartment, appalled by the mess.
▪ Please run your eye over this and let me know what you think. ▪ She cast her eye over the apartment, appalled by the mess.
catch your eye — see 1catch
close/shut your eyes to
: to refuse to notice or accept the truth or existence of (something) : to ignore (something)
▪ Our legislators have closed their eyes to the poverty that surrounds them.
▪ Our legislators have closed their eyes to the poverty that surrounds them.
cock an/your eye — see 2cock
cry your eyes out — see 1cry
easy on the eyes — see 1easy
eyes in the back of your head
◊When people are surprised that you have seen or noticed something that is behind you, they may say that you have eyes in the back of your head.
▪ How did you know we were here? You must have eyes in the back of your head!
▪ How did you know we were here? You must have eyes in the back of your head!
feast your eyes on — see 2feast
for your eyes only
: intended to be seen only by you
▪ This memo is for your eyes only.
▪ This memo is for your eyes only.
give (someone) the eye
informal : to look at (someone) in a way that shows sexual attraction
▪ Several men were giving her the eye across the bar.
▪ Several men were giving her the eye across the bar.
have/keep an/your eye out for
: to be looking for (someone or something) : to hope to see or find (someone or something)
▪ I'm keeping my eye out for a good cheap used car. ▪ He'll be here soon, so keep your eye out for him.
▪ I'm keeping my eye out for a good cheap used car. ▪ He'll be here soon, so keep your eye out for him.
have an eye to/toward
: to have (something) in your thoughts as a goal or purpose
▪ She has an eye to attending graduate school. [=she hopes to attend graduate school]
▪ She has an eye to attending graduate school. [=she hopes to attend graduate school]
(have) stars in your eyes — see 1star
have your eye on 1 : to watch (someone or something) closely
▪ I'll have my eye on the kids while they're swimming. 2 : to be thinking about buying (something)
▪ I have my eye on a new car. ▪ She's had her eye on that house for a long time.
▪ I'll have my eye on the kids while they're swimming.
▪ I have my eye on a new car. ▪ She's had her eye on that house for a long time.
in a pig's eye
US slang — used to express strong disagreement ▪ You want me to apologize to him? In a pig's eye! [=Never!]
in the blink of an eye — see 2blink
in the public eye
: in a position that receives a lot of public notice and attention
▪ The job requires someone who is comfortable being in the public eye.
▪ The job requires someone who is comfortable being in the public eye.
in the twinkle/twinkling of an eye
: in a very short time : very quickly
▪ He was back in the twinkle/twinkling of an eye.
▪ He was back in the twinkle/twinkling of an eye.
in your mind's eye
◊If you see something in your mind's eye, you imagine or remember how it looks.
▪ I can still see the old playground in my mind's eye.
▪ I can still see the old playground in my mind's eye.
keep an/your eye on
: to watch or take care of (someone or something)
▪ Will you keep an eye on my suitcase (for me) while I get something to eat?
▪ Will you keep an eye on my suitcase (for me) while I get something to eat?
keep your eye on the ball — see 1ball
keep your eyes glued to
informal : to watch (something) very closely for a long time
▪ They kept their eyes glued to the television, waiting for more news about the accident.
▪ They kept their eyes glued to the television, waiting for more news about the accident.
keep your eyes open or keep your eyes peeled or Brit keep your eyes skinned
informal : to look or watch closely in order to see or find (something)
▪ We kept our eyes peeled for a sign that would tell us where to turn.
▪ We kept our eyes peeled for a sign that would tell us where to turn.
lay/set eyes on or Brit clap eyes on
: to see or look at (someone or something)
▪ I hope never to lay eyes on him again! ▪ We liked the house from the moment we set eyes on it. [=the moment when we first saw it]
▪ I hope never to lay eyes on him again! ▪ We liked the house from the moment we set eyes on it. [=the moment when we first saw it]
make eyes at
informal : to look at (someone) in a way that shows sexual attraction
▪ Some guy was making eyes at her from across the room.
▪ Some guy was making eyes at her from across the room.
more than meets the eye
◊If something is more than meets the eye or there is more to something than meets the eye, there is more to it than there appears to be at first.
▪ There is more to this proposal than meets the eye.
▪ There is more to this proposal than meets the eye.
my eye
informal — used to express surprise or mild disagreement ▪ A diamond, my eye! That's glass!
not bat an eye — see 4bat
only have eyes for
: to only be attracted to (a particular person) : to only feel love for (someone)
▪ He only has eyes for you.
▪ He only has eyes for you.
open someone's eyes
: to cause someone to notice or be aware of something important
▪ The experience really opened his eyes and changed the way he felt about his life. — often + to ▪ It's time they opened their eyes to the truth. ▪ His film helped open people's eyes to the problem.
▪ The experience really opened his eyes and changed the way he felt about his life. — often + to ▪ It's time they opened their eyes to the truth. ▪ His film helped open people's eyes to the problem.
open your eyes
: to begin to notice or be aware of something important
▪ You need to open your eyes and face the truth. — often + to ▪ We have to open our eyes to these problems and stop ignoring them.
▪ You need to open your eyes and face the truth. — often + to ▪ We have to open our eyes to these problems and stop ignoring them.
pull the wool over someone's eyes — see wool
roving eye — see roving
run your eye down
: to quickly read or look at (something, such as a list)
▪ She ran her eye down the list looking for her name.
▪ She ran her eye down the list looking for her name.
see eye to eye
: to have the same opinion : agree — usually used in negative statements ▪ They don't see eye to eye (with each other) on this issue.
take your eyes off
: to stop looking at (someone or something)
▪ I took my eyes off the road for one second. ▪ She was so beautiful, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
▪ I took my eyes off the road for one second. ▪ She was so beautiful, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
the apple of someone's eye — see apple
turn a blind eye — see 1blind
under the eye of
: while being watched by (someone)
▪ Students work under the watchful/vigilant eye of their teacher.
▪ Students work under the watchful/vigilant eye of their teacher.
up to your eyes
: deeply involved in or affected by something
▪ We're up to our eyes in work. [=we are very busy] ▪ They're up to their eyes in debt.
▪ We're up to our eyes in work. [=we are very busy] ▪ They're up to their eyes in debt.
with an eye to/toward
: with (something) in your thoughts as a goal or purpose
▪ They hired him with an eye toward increased sales. ▪ They bought the house with an eye toward its restoration. ▪ He took the job with an eye to the future. [=he took the job because he felt it would help him in the future]
▪ They hired him with an eye toward increased sales. ▪ They bought the house with an eye toward its restoration. ▪ He took the job with an eye to the future. [=he took the job because he felt it would help him in the future]
with your/both eyes open
: fully aware of what could happen
▪ I went into the job with my eyes (wide) open. ▪ If you do this, you need to do it with both eyes open.
▪ I went into the job with my eyes (wide) open. ▪ If you do this, you need to do it with both eyes open.
with your eyes shut/closed
informal : with little or no effort : very easily
▪ She could run that company with her eyes shut.
▪ She could run that company with her eyes shut.
your eyes are bigger than your stomach
◊If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you have taken more food than you can possibly eat.
▪ I can't finish my meal—I guess my eyes were bigger than my stomach!
▪ I can't finish my meal—I guess my eyes were bigger than my stomach!
