eye

I UK [aɪ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "eye":
singular eye plural eyes
***

1)

a) one of the two body parts in your face that you use for seeing

Close your eyes and go to sleep.

He gazed into her eyes as she spoke.

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

b) your ability to see things

These bacteria are invisible to our eyes.

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 calm area at the centre of a storm

5) the hole at the top of a needle

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

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

See:

hook and eye

•

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/belly — informal used for saying that someone has taken more food than they can eat

have an eye for/to the main chance — British to be ready to use any possible opportunity to succeed

have/keep your eye on someone — to be watching someone carefully, especially because you think they are going to do something wrong

I've got my eye on you Sarah. Any more trouble and you're out.

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.

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.

in front of someone's (very) eyes= before someone's (very) eyes — in a place where someone can clearly see something

It happened right in front of my eyes.

keep your eyes open/peeled/skinned (for) — to keep looking for someone or something that you hope to find

Keep your eyes open for a petrol station.

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 to 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/clap eyes on — to see someone or something, especially for the first time

I have no wish to set eyes on this place ever again.

with your eyes shut/closed — used for saying that it is easy to do something

I could do his job with my eyes shut.

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.

- all eyes are on

- be up to your eyes in something

- can't take your eyes off

- someone's eyes meet

- for your eyes only

- give someone the eye

- have an eye for

- have an eye to something

- have eyes in the back of your head

- have your eye on someone

- have your eye on something

- have one eye on

- in the eye of the storm

- in someone's eyes

- keep an eye on

- keep an eye out for

- the naked eye

- one in the eye for someone

- only have eyes for someone

- open someone's eyes to something

- open your eyes to something

- take your eyes off

- there is more to someone than meets the eye

- there is more to something than meets the eye

- through someone's eyes

- under someone's eye

See:

blind I, catch I, close I, look I, shut I

II UK [aɪ] / US verb [transitive]
Word forms "eye":
present tense I/you/we/they eye he/she/it eyes present participle eyeing or eying past tense eyed past participle eyed
*

1) to look at someone or something carefully

A group of local boys eyed them suspiciously.

2) American

same as eye up Phrasal verbs:

- eye up