English Profile

eye · noun C

/ɑɪ/Full view

eye

A1 one of the two organs in your face, which you use to see with

Dictionary examples:

He has no sight in his left/right eye.

She's got beautiful green eyes.

He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Learner example:

I like her long brown hair and blue eyes. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Albanian)

not believe your eyes

B1 to be very surprised when you see someone or something

Dictionary example:

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what he was wearing.

Learner example:

Well, this church was extremely simple [o]n the outside, but when I got inside it, I couldn't believe my eyes. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

keep your/an eye on sb/sth

B2 to watch or look after someone or something

Dictionary example:

Could you keep an eye on this pot of soup for a moment?

Learner example:

You have to supply [e]verything they need and keep an eye on them all the time. (First Certificate in English; B2; Turkish)

in sb's eyes

B2 in someone's opinion

Dictionary example:

In my parents' eyes, I'll always be a child.

Learner example:

To answer your question right away, the boat trip is highly recommendable in my eyes! (First Certificate in English; B2; German)

can't keep/take your eyes off sb/sth

B2 to be unable to stop looking at someone or something because they are so attractive or interesting

Dictionary example:

He couldn't take his eyes off the wrapped gifts on the table.

Learner example:

Her daughter, Lourdes Maria, is such a pretty little girl that I couldn't take my eyes off her. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

have an eye for sth

B2 to be good at noticing a particular type of thing

Dictionary example:

Your son has a very good eye for detail.

Learner example:

She's got an eye for details but a mind like anybody else's. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

keep an eye out for sb/sth

C1 to watch carefully for someone or something to appear

Dictionary example:

Keep an eye out for the delivery truck.

Learner example:

Although individually we try to deliver the best care possible for our individual patients, we do keep an ear or an eye out for the other members of the team that day. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Tagalog)

turn a blind eye (to sth)

C1 to choose to ignore something that you know is wrong

Dictionary example:

The restaurant staff often took food home, and their boss turned a blind eye.

Learner example:

Nevertheless, we can't turn a blind eye to this reality. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Portuguese)

be in the public eye

C1 to be famous and often featured in the media

Dictionary example:

Her new role means that she will be in the public eye.

Learner example:

But being famous also means that you are always in the public eye, which is a major drawback. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; German)

catch sb's eye

C2 to get someone's attention by looking at them

Dictionary example:

I tried to catch her eye, but she had already turned away.

Learner example:

All of a sudden she caught my eye and smiled in a sad way. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Dutch)

catch sb's eye

C2 to be attractive or different enough to be noticed by people

Dictionary example:

It was the color of his jacket that caught my eye.

Learner example:

Dear Sir, I am writing regarding your newly published article about nutrition, which immediately caught my eye as I was reading your magazine. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Romanian)

look sb in the eye/eyes

B2 to look at someone in a direct way, without showing fear or shame

Dictionary example:

I wanted to look him in the eye and tell him I made a mistake.

Learner example:

One day she looked me in the eyes with a sharp deep look - never have I seen such a deep look - and asked me what was happening and I told her. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

see eye to eye (with sb)

C2 If two people see eye to eye, they agree with each other.

Dictionary example:

My sister didn’t see eye to eye with me.

Learner example:

Although I agree with some of the statements given by the young people, I do not see eye to eye with all of their viewpoints. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Romansch)

keep your eyes peeled (for sb/sth)

C2 to watch carefully for someone or something

Dictionary example:

Keep your eyes peeled, he should be here any minute.

Learner example:

Ever since, I try to keep my eyes peeled for anything similar. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

keep your eyes open (for sb/sth)

C2 to watch carefully for someone or something

Dictionary example:

Keep your eyes open for anything unusual.

Learner example:

While staying in Turkey, for example, people ought to keep their eyes open. Look into life there. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

cry your eyes out

C2 If someone cries their eyes out, they cry a lot about a problem or situation.

Dictionary example:

When she heard the fire had destroyed the houses, she cried her eyes out.

Learner example:

She passed away when I was six years old. I cried my eyes out. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

in the blink of an eye

C2 extremely quickly

Dictionary example:

In the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Learner example:

I got dressed [i]n the blink of an eye and I got down to the kitchen almost rolling down the stairs. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

in your mind's eye

C2 in your imagination or memory

Dictionary example:

In my mind's eye, I imagined the building painted white, with a beautiful garden around it.

Learner example:

He sees her in his mind's eye, running around barefoot, laughing and squealing, wading in the water and running back out, screaming, trying to get away from the breaking waves. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

the naked eye

C2 If something can be seen by the naked eye, it is big enough to be seen without special equipment.

Dictionary example:

These bugs are so tiny you cannot see them with the naked eye.

roll your eyes

C2 to move your eyes in a circle to show surprise or disapproval

Dictionary example:

When I asked her when she thought the building work would be finished, she just rolled her eyes.

Learner example:

This attitude is obvious when, for instance, s[ales] assistan[ts] show no patience for the slower reaction of elderl[y] [people]; when nobody offers a seat to an older person in [an] overcrowded t[rain]; when we roll our eyes about older people's desire for quiet, etc. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

eye contact ()

C2 when people look directly at each other, for instance when they are talking to each other

Dictionary example:

There was very little eye contact between them.

Learner example:

I tried to avoid having eye contact with people just because of this humility. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Chinese)