eye

eye1 [ aı ] noun count ***

▸ 1 body part for seeing

▸ 2 expression on someone's face

▸ 3 for saying someone is looking

▸ 4 hole in needle

▸ 5 calm center of storm

▸ 6 spot on potato

▸ 7 part that hook fits into

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) one of the two body parts in your face that you use for seeing:

Close your eyes and go to sleep.

He stared into her eyes as she spoke.

The suspect is in his twenties, with blond hair and blue eyes.

a ) your ability to see things:

These bacteria are invisible to our eyes.

b ) the naked eye the human eye alone, without special equipment such as a TELESCOPE

2. ) used for talking about the expression on someone's face:

He spoke to her with slight amusement in his eyes.

She smiled excitedly, her eyes gleaming.

3. ) used for saying that someone is looking at a person or thing:

eye on: I fixed my eye on the clock.

4. ) the hole at the top of a needle

5. ) the calm area at the center of a storm

6. ) one of the spots on a potato that new growth comes from

7. ) the part into which a hook fits to fasten clothing

=> HOOK AND EYE

all eyes are on

used for saying that everyone is paying attention to a particular person, event, or situation:

All eyes were on Carla as she completed her final dive.

be up to your eyes in something INFORMAL

to have a very large amount of something to do or deal with:

I can't come out tonight. I'm up to my eyes in schoolwork.

can't take your eyes off

to be unable to stop looking at someone or something that is attractive, surprising, or interesting

catch someone's eye

1. ) to get someone to look at you:

I'll try to catch his eye as he leaves the meeting.

2. ) if something catches your eye, you suddenly notice it:

Something shiny in the grass caught my eye.

close/shut your eyes to something

to refuse to accept or consider something

an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth)

the idea that someone who has harmed another person should be punished by having the same thing done to them

someone's eyes are bigger than their stomach INFORMAL

used for saying that someone has taken more food than they can eat

someone's eyes meet

if two people's eyes meet, they look at each other and have the same feeling or thought

for your eyes only

used for saying that only one person is allowed to see a document, letter, etc.

give someone the eye INFORMAL

to look at someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them

have an eye for

1. ) to have a natural ability for seeing or finding something:

Proofreaders need to have a good eye for detail.

2. ) to consider a particular type of person sexually attractive:

He's always had an eye for redheads.

have an eye to something

to be considering something for the future:

It is clear that the novelist has an eye to a Hollywood adaptation.

have your eye on someone

1. ) to be considering trying to start a sexual or romantic relationship with someone

2. ) to consider someone suitable for a particular job, position, or activity

have your eye on something

to have seen something and want to have it or buy it:

I've got my eye on a new DVD player.

have eyes in the back of your head INFORMAL

to notice everything that is happening around you

have/keep your eye on someone

to be watching someone carefully, especially because you think they are going to do something wrong

have/keep your eye on something

to keep looking at something, especially to avoid making a mistake:

It's important to keep your eye on the ball at all times.

have one eye on something

to keep looking at or paying attention to something while you are doing something else:

I had one eye on the clock the whole time.

in front of someone's (very) eyes or before someone's eyes

in a place where someone can clearly see something:

It happened right in front of my eyes.

in the eye of the storm

in the middle of a difficult situation

in someone's eyes

according to what someone thinks or feels:

In his mother's eyes, the boy can do no wrong.

in the eyes of the law/world etc.

according to the law, what other countries believe is right, etc.:

In the eyes of the law, theft is a less serious crime than handling stolen goods.

keep an eye on

to take care of someone or something:

Will you keep an eye on things here until I get back?

keep your eyes open/peeled (for something)

to keep looking for something that you hope to find:

Keep your eyes open for a gas station.

keep an eye out for

to keep looking for someone or something, especially when you are doing something else:

He asked me to keep an eye out for any houses to rent.

look someone in the eye/eyes

to look directly at someone, especially as a way to show that you are being honest:

Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't do it.

only have eyes for someone

to only like or love a particular person

open someone's eyes to something

to make someone realize the truth about a situation:

It was this incident that opened my eyes to her true character.

open your eyes to something

to allow yourself to accept or consider something:

He refused to open his eyes to the truth.

run/cast your eye(s) over something

to look at or read something very quickly

see eye to eye (with someone)

to agree with someone or have the same opinion as them:

see eye to eye (with someone) with: I don't see eye to eye with my father on many things.

set/lay eyes on

to see someone or something, especially for the first time

take your eyes off

to stop looking at someone or something:

She only took her eyes off the child for a moment.

there is more to someone than meets the eye

used for saying that someone has qualities or experience that someone else does not know about

there is more to something than meets the eye

used for saying that a situation is more complicated than it seems

through someone's eyes

as though a particular person is seeing or experiencing something:

The story is told through the eyes of a child.

under someone's eye

with a particular person watching or taking care of someone or something:

The girls sat on the ground under the watchful eye of their aunt.

with your eyes (wide) open

knowing that there could be many problems in a situation:

I went into the job with my eyes open, fully knowing what it would involve.

with your eyes shut/closed

used for saying that it is easy to do something:

I could do his job with my eyes shut.

=> BLIND1

eye

eye 2 [ aı ] (present participle eye|ing or ey|ing) verb transitive *

1. ) to look at someone or something carefully:

A group of local boys eyed them suspiciously.

2. ) AMERICAN to look at someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them