Phrases with the word eyes

Sayings, Maxims, and Proverbs About Eyes

Updated on August 17, 2019

The following idioms and expressions use the noun eye. Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help with these common idiomatic expressions.

Apple of Someone’s Eye

The expression apple of my eye is often used when referring to family members, or those who are closest to us to mean that they are someone’s favorite person or object.

Jennifer is the apple of her father’s eye. He’s so proud of her.

My Mercedes is the apple of my eye.

Bird’s-eye View

Bird’s-eye view refers to a viewpoint from which one can see a wide area. This idiom is often used figuratively to mean that someone can see a situation from a wider perspective.

His bird’s-eye view of the market will help us beat our competitors.

The hotel provides a lovely bird’s-eye view over the bay.

Catch Someone’s Eye

Catch someone’s eye indicates that someone or something has gained attention.

I caught the server’s eye. He’ll be with us shortly.

That house on Elm street certainly caught my eye. Should we talk a look inside?

Cry One’s Eyes Out

Crying one’s eyes out is an idiom used for very sad events in one’s life. It means to cry for a very long time in a desperate manner such as at the loss of a loved one.

I think you just need to cry your eyes out to get it all out of your system.

Maria’s crying her eyes out. I wonder what happened?

Eagle Eye

Someone with an eagle eye has the ability to see important details and notice mistakes.

Show it to the editor. She has an eagle eye and will catch any mistake.

Luckily, Tom’s eagle eye saw the discounted sweater I was looking for.

Feast One’s Eyes on Something

If you feast your eyes on something, you enjoy the sight of something. This idiom is often used to boast about a possession of which you are very proud.

Feast your eyes on my new watch. Isn’t it beautiful?!

I can’t stop feasting my eyes on my new car.

Get a Black Eye

If you get a black eye, you receive a bruise from something around the eye. This idiom can also be used figuratively to mean to suffer a defeat.

I got a black eye when I bumped into the door.

I guess we got a black eye trying to compete with that big corporation.

Get Stars in One’s Eyes

Some young people get stars in their eyes because they become obsessed about show business.

Ever since Janet got the lead role in the high school play, she’s got stars in her eyes.

Just because you are handsome doesn’t mean you need to get stars in your eyes.

Give Someone the Eye

People will run when you give them the eye because you look at someone in an accusatory or disapproving manner.

The teacher was giving me the eye during the test. I guess he thought I might cheat.

Don’t give me the eye! You’re the one who caused this mess.

Have Eyes Bigger than Your Stomach

Unfortunately, it’s easy to put on weight if you have eyes bigger than your stomach because you desire more food than you can eat.

Little children tend to have eyes bigger than their stomachs.

I remember one crazy night when my best friend had eyes bigger than his stomach. He ordered more than six different meals!

Have Eyes in the Back of One’s Head

If you have eyes in the back of your head, you are be able to see what is going on. This can be frustrating because others might think they are being secretive and are not noticed.

My mom had eyes in the back of her head. I never got away with anything.

Do you have eyes in the back of your head? How did you notice that?

Hit the Bull’s-eye

When a person hits the bull’s-eye, they hit the center of the target. This expression is also used figuratively to express an impressive result.

I think we hit the bull’s-eye with our new product line.

You’ve hit the bull’s-eye by getting that job.

In the Public Eye

If you are in the public eye, you are in a position where the public can observe your actions, so be very careful!

You’ll be in the public eye if you take that job.

Hollywood actors are all in the public eye.

Keep One’s Eye on the Ball

People who can keep their eye on the ball remain concentrated, especially in a work situation.

You need to keep your eye on the ball, no matter how long it takes, to succeed.

His ability to keep his eye on the ball assured his eventual success.

Turn a Blind Eye to Someone or Something

Unfortunately, some people turn a blind eye to someone and show that they are willingly to ignore something wrong.

Just turn a blind eye to Ted. He’ll never change.

I’m going to turn a blind eye to that problem for the moment.

Without Batting an Eye

Most parents help their children without batting an eye because they do it without hesitation.

He purchased the $2 million home without batting an eye.

John made the decision without batting an eye.

FIll in the gaps with a word to complete these sentences with expressions using eye:

1. Our boss has an ______ eye because he catches mistakes that others miss.
2. Let’s take a ______ view of this situation to make sure we don’t miss anything.
3. It’s surprising how many young people get ______ in their eyes and move to Hollywood to start a career.
4. I ordered this cake, but it’s too much. I’m afraid I have eyes that are bigger than my ______.
5. My daughter is the ______ of my eye.
6. I think you hit the ______ when you made that investment. Today, you are a millionaire!
7. She gave her daughter $500 without ______ an eye because she trusts her to spend it wisely.
8. Would you please stop giving me the ______! You’re making me nervous!
9. I got a ______ eye when I fell last week.
10. Politicians are always in the ______ eye. 

Answers

1. eagle
2. bird’s-eye
3. stars
4. stomach
5. apple
6. bull’s-eye
7. batting
8. eye
9. black
10. public

Идиомы помогают обогатить вашу речь и сделать ее более выразительной. В английском языке, как и в русском, есть множество выражений с разными словами. Некоторые из них считаются устойчивыми и переводятся особенным образом. Разберем такие фразы со словом «Eye» («Глаз»).

Распространенные идиомы

Все реплики со словом «Eye» так или иначе связаны со зрением. Но многие из них относятся к образным высказываниям, поэтому перевод таких словосочетаний будет необычным.

• Have eyes in the back of one’s head. / Иметь глаза на затылке.

Такую фразу часто используют носители языка в бытовом общении. Она произносится, когда собеседник хочет подчеркнуть, что все видит и замечает.

My mom had eyes in the back of her head. I never got away with anything. / У моей мамы глаза на затылке. Мне никогда ничего не сходило с рук.

• Apple of someone’s eye. / Зеница чьего-то ока.

Такая реплика указывает на то сокровенное, что есть у человека. Она употребляется по отношению к близкому человеку, родственнику или второй половинке.

Nick is the apple of his father’s eye. / Ник – зеница ока своего отца.

• Get a black eye. / Получить синяк.

Применяется в прямом и переносном смысле. Оборот переводится не только как «Заработать фингал», но и как «Потерпеть поражение».

They got a black eye trying to compete with that corporation. / Они получили синяк под глазом, пытаясь конкурировать с той корпорацией.

• Catch someone’s eye. / Поймать чей-то взгляд.

Используется для описания как одушевленного, так и неодушевленного предмета. Обозначает, что кто-то или что-либо привлекло внимание говорящего.

Ann caught the server’s eye. He will be with us shortly. / Анна поймала взгляд официанта. Он скоро будет с нами.

• Hit the bull’s-eye. / Попасть в яблочко.

Употребляется, когда нужно подчеркнуть, что человек попал в самый центр мишени. Фигурально такой оборот выражает впечатляющий результат.

They hit the bull’s-eye with their new product line. / Они попали в яблочко с их новой линейкой продуктов.

• Cry one’s eyes out. / Выплакать все глаза.

Фразеологизм применяется при очень печальных событиях. Он подразумевает высшую степень отчаяния и печали.

You just need to cry your eyes out to get it all out of your system. / Тебе просто нужно выплакать глаза, чтобы избавиться от всего этого.

• Keep one’s eye on the ball. / Следить за мячом, сфокусироваться на одной цели.

Зачастую эта фраза употребляется в образном значении. Она подразумевает ориентацию человека на выполнение конкретной задачи.

Her ability to keep her eye on the ball assured her eventual success. / Ее способность концентрироваться на одной задаче обеспечила ей окончательный успех.

• Eagle eye. / Орлиный глаз.

Подходит для характеристики человека с острым зрением, способного замечать малейшие ошибки и видеть детали.

Leila’s eagle eye saw the discounted skirt Tina was looking for. / Зоркий глаз Лейлы увидел юбку со скидкой, которую искала Тина.

• Turn a blind eye to something or someone. / Закрыть глаза на что-то или кого-то.

Такой оборот звучит, когда человек хочет подчеркнуть игнорирование какой-либо проблемы. Эта реплика отражает сознательное скрытие истинного хода вещей.

My boss is going to turn a blind eye to that problem for the moment. / Мой босс собирается закрыть глаза на эту проблему на данный момент.

• Feast one’s eyes on something. / Любоваться чем-то.

Высказывание используется, чтобы похвастаться вещью, которой человек обладает. Это призыв посмотреть и насладиться чем-то.

He can`t stop feasting his eyes on his new bike. / Он не может оторвать глаз от своего нового мотоцикла.  

Лучше всего запомнить эти обороты у вас получится в языковой среде при непосредственном общении с носителями языка. Тогда вы на практике увидите, как правильно использовать каждую из таких идиом. Если хотите потренировать свои речевые навыки на англоязычной территории, запишитесь на курсы английского языка за рубежом в WSE. Благодаря программе Study Abroad вы сможете отправиться в Англию и закрепить полученные в наших учебных центрах знания, общаясь с англичанами каждый день и совершенствуя свой английский в естественной обстановке.

EYE Idioms and Sayings! Learn useful phrases and idioms with EYES in English with meaning, example sentences and ESL picture to improve your English vocabulary.

Full list of body idioms in English with examples.

Eye Idioms & Sayings

List of Eye Idioms in English

• A Sight for Sore Eyes
• All Eyes And Ears
• All Eyes Are On
• An Eye for an Eye
• Catch Someone’s Eye
• Cry Your Eyes Out
• Keep an Eye On
• Keep an eye peeled
• See Eye to Eye
• See Something/somebody Out of the Corner of Your Eye
• To be the apple of someone’s eye
• Turn a Blind Eye (to)
• Wandering Eye
• Black Eye
• Blue Eyed Boy
• Baby Blues

Eye Idioms with Meaning and Examples

A Sight for Sore Eyes

• Meaning: Someone that you’re pleased to see
• Example: I’m so glad to see you! You’re a sight for sore eyes.

All Eyes And Ears

• Meaning: Attentive
• Example: The team was all eyes and ears as the coach explained the challenges ahead.

All Eyes Are On

• Meaning: Watching alertly or attentively.
• Example:  After the candidate’s strong performance in the first debate, all eyes are on him to see if he will make a mistake this time.

An Eye for an Eye

• Meaning: Justice in which reparation or vengeance exactly matches the harm caused to the victim
• Example: Negotiations broke down, and the war devolved into an endless eye-for-an-eye cycle of revenge.

Catch Someone’s Eye

• Meaning: Attract someone’s attention
• Example: I was reading Internet classified ads, and an ad for an old Ford Mustang caught my eye.

Cry Your Eyes Out

• Meaning: Cry hard for a very long time
• Example: After my boyfriend broke up with me, I cried my eyes out.

Keep an Eye On

• Meaning: To keep an eye on something or someone is to watch it periodically, to keep it under surveillance.
• Example: I’m leaving my son with you for the day. Please keep an eye on him.

Keep an eye peeled

• Meaning: Be observant; watch out for something
• Example: If you go to the mall, keep an eye peeled for Anita-”she said she’s be there.

See Eye to Eye

• Meaning: To concur, agree
• Example: I don’t see eye to eye with Frances on the workflow, but she’s the boss.

See Something/somebody Out of the Corner of Your Eye

• Meaning: Use peripheral vision
• Example: How did you know I was here? You didn’t even look up! — I saw you out of the corner of my eye.

To be the apple of someone’s eye

• Meaning: To be loved and treasured by someone
• Example: You are the apple of my eye!

Turn a Blind Eye (to)

• Meaning: Choose not to notice something
• Example: My husband always supports me and is willing to turn a blind eye to my faults.

Wandering Eye

• Meaning: A tendency to look at and desire women or men other than one’s committed romantic partner
• Example: I know Sean has a wandering eye, but I’m sure he’s never cheated on me.

Black Eye

• Meaning: A mark of shame
• Example: By overcharging customers, you not only gave the company a black eye – you broke the law.

Blue Eyed Boy

• Meaning: A person who is a favorite of those in authority; someone whose mistakes are forgiven.
• Example: Steve is the supervisor’s blue-eyed boy. He doesn’t really do that much work, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

Baby Blues

• Meaning: Blue eyes.
• Example: I know Jason is bad for me, but when I get a look at his baby blues I can’t resist him.

Useful EYE Idioms in English | Image

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Body Parts Idioms

List of Body Idioms in English with meaning and examples.

• Head Idioms
• Face Idioms
  • Nose Idioms
  • Eye Idioms
  • Ear Idioms
  • Mouth Idioms
  • Teeth Idioms
  • Chin Idioms
  • Lip Idioms
• Heart Idioms
• Hand Idioms
• Finger Idioms
• Foot Idioms
• Leg Idioms
• Thumb Idioms
• Neck Idioms
• Heel Idioms
• Arm Idioms
• Belly Idioms
• Shoulder Idioms

Last Updated on January 30, 2023

Hi dear English learners! Here is another lesson with body parts idioms. Today, it is about 20 idioms using the word EYE.

1. 1. Your eyes are bigger than your belly/stomach 
2. 2. Eyes out on stalks
3. 3. A bird’s eye view
4. 4. Can do something with your eyes shut/closed
5. 5. An eye for an eye
6. 6. The apple of your eye
7. 7. Be all eyes
8. 8. Be in the public eye
9. 9. More than meets the eye
10. 10. In the blink of an eye ​
11. 11. Can’t take your eyes off
12. 12. To keep your eyes peeled
13. 13. Can’t believe your eyes
14. 14. To see eye to eye 
15. 15. Have stars in your eyes
16. 16. Catch someone’s eye
17. 17. Have eyes in the back of your head
18. 18. Feast your eyes on something
19. 19. Turn a blind eye
20. 20. Cry your eyes out

1. Your eyes are bigger than your belly/stomach 

We usually use this idiom to say that you took more food than you can eat. 

For example:

• I put too much food on my plate and now I can’t eat all of it. My eyes are bigger than my stomach.
• Sometimes when I revise for my exams, I get nervous and eat too much. My mum then tells me that my eyes are bigger than my stomach.

2. Eyes out on stalks

If your eyes are out on stalks, then you are so surprised by what you see that your eyes almost pop out, like in cartoons. Anyway, this idiom is to show us the high degree of someone’s amazement or eager curiosity.

For example:

• Brian’s eyes were out on stalks when he saw his parents at the door at 3 a.m. 
• My wife likes romantic movies, so I suppose her eyes will be on stalks when she sees this one.

3. A bird’s eye view

This idiom has two meanings. one refers to a view you get from a high place such as an aeroplane or a tall building; the other has a figurative meaning, referring to seeing things more clearly.

For example:

• When we were on holiday, our hotel room was on the top floor so we had a beautiful bird’s eye view of the surrounding.
• Robert’s report provided a bird’s eye view of the company’s financial situation.  

4. Can do something with your eyes shut/closed

If you can do something with your eyes closed, either it is an easy thing to do or you are very skilled at doing it.

For example:

• I’ve been doing my job for so long that I could do it with my eyes closed.
• I know this road so well that I could drive with my eyes shut.

5. An eye for an eye

The expression “eye for an eye” starts from the idea that if someone did something wrong to you then you should do the same thing to them in return. The full expression is “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” with the same meaning. 

For example:

• The only law mafia respects is “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. But I’m sure things can’t be that simple when it comes to justice.
• Gandhi once said that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

6. The apple of your eye

If you say that someone or something is an apple of your eye, you say that it is your favourite person or thing.

For example:

• Peter’s eldest son was the apple of his eye.
• My new apartment is the apple of my eye. 

7. Be all eyes

If you are all eyes, then you’re watching something intently and with a lot of interest.

For example:

• The children were all eyes when they saw Santa Claus.
• People in the audience were all eyes when the celebrity musician showed up on the stage.

8. Be in the public eye

A person who’s in the public eye is someone everyone is talking about; we can see such people a lot in the news, on TV, etc.  

• The famous fashion model has been in the public eye ever since her husband was murdered.
• The famous football player is spending his holiday on a small island, away from the public eye.

9. More than meets the eye

This expression means that things are more complicated than they seemed at first.

For example:

• My job is so complicated. There is much more to it than meets the eye.
• The scientist wanted to take more precautions before investigating it, so I figured out there’s more to it than meets the eye.

10. In the blink of an eye ​

The idiom refers to something happening very quickly or instantly, just like the blink of an eye.

For example:

• It was a sunny day and in the blink of an eye, it started to rain.
• In the blink of an eye, the thief got off the bus altogether with my wallet.

11. Can’t take your eyes off

If you can’t take your eyes off something, then you can’t stop looking at someone or something.

For example:

• Tom was staring at Sarah in her bridal gown and couldn’t take his eyes off her because she looked gorgeous.
• Darling, you grew up so much. I simply can’t take my eyes off you!

12. To keep your eyes peeled

If you keep your eyes peeled, you carefully watch for something.

For example:

•  It’s nighttime and you’re tired, so will you please keep your eyes peeled on the road?
• I’ve heard the inspector might visit us today, so keep your eyes peeled. We don’t want him to see us unprepared.

13. Can’t believe your eyes

If you say that you can’t believe your eyes, you must be shocked or surprised.

For example:

• When I visited my home town ten years later, I couldn’t believe my eyes how much it has changed.
• John couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw his dog’s back home after being lost for three days.

14. To see eye to eye 

People who see eye to eye feel alike about something or agree about it.

For example:

• The two friends saw eye to eye to most things so they rarely argued.
• Terry didn’t see eye to eye with his boss, but he had to be silent.

15. Have stars in your eyes

 If you have stars in your eyes, then you dream about something with a lot of enthusiasm and hope. 

For example:

• Ivan has stars in his eyes whenever he talks about the book he’s writing.
• Talking about their coming marriage and honeymoon, both Sally and Darren had stars in their eyes.

16. Catch someone’s eye

To catch someone’s eye means to draw their attention.

For example:

• It was a crowd but I managed to catch the waiter’s eye and order breakfast.
• Nora was walking in the park when an unknown man sitting on the bench caught her eye.

17. Have eyes in the back of your head

The idiom refers to someone’s ability to see everything that’s going on around them, even beyond their area of vision.

For example:

• Be careful what you’re doing because our boss has eyes in the back of his head.
• Teachers need to have eyes in the back of their heads in order to keep the class under control.

18. Feast your eyes on something

if you feast your eyes on something, then you enjoy the sight of it.

For example:

• I finished decorating the fir tree. You are not allowed to touch it, just feast your eyes on it.
• Mary feasted her eyes on the painting in the gallery.

19. Turn a blind eye

To turn a blind eye means to ignore something.

For example:

• The principal of our school always turns a blind eye when it comes to drug abuse in our school.
• Police are not supposed to turn a blind eye to illegal activities or take bribes from criminals.

20. Cry your eyes out

If you cried your eyes out, you must’ve been very sad and cried really hard for a long time.

For example:

• Simona cried her eyes out when her cat died. 
• Whenever watching that sad movie, my mum cries her eyes out.

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