eye - thesaurus entry

phrases

• all eyes are on

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Attentiveness and paying attention: attention, regard, focused, alert, attentive, concerned, attention span, observant, fixated, under someone’s critical eye... more

• be up to your eyes in something

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To be busy: run around, rush around, juggle, pack in, immerse yourself in something, have your hands full, cram in, be taken up with something, be up to your eyes in something, not know whether you’re coming or going... more

• can’t take your eyes off

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To be, or to become interested in something: deal in, wake up, have something on the brain, be big on something, be struck by/with something, live and breathe something, can’t take your eyes off, nibble, care, glom onto... more

• 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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Revenge: revenge, vengeance, retribution, retaliation, reprisal, counterattack, payback, vendetta, comeback, turnabout is fair play... more

• someone’s eyes are bigger than their stomach

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Words used to describe someone's appetite: full, gluttonous, greedy, light, piggy, replete, stuffed, unquenchable, voracious, someone’s eyes are bigger than their stomach... more

• someone’s eyes meet

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To look at someone in a particular way: bore into, eye, fix with, glower, leer, lock, lower, meet, outstare, stare down... more

• for your eyes only

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Expressions used in letters and correspondence: Dear, love, postscript, herewith, Yours, Sincerely yours, kind regards, best wishes, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully... more

• give someone the eye

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To look at someone in a particular way: bore into, eye, fix with, glower, leer, lock, lower, meet, outstare, stare down... more

• have an eye for

  1. 1

     to have a natural ability for seeing or finding something

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

     To be good at doing something: be able to do something, have a flair for something, have a genius for (doing) something, be in practice, have an eye for, be a past master at doing something, can do something in your sleep, have a magic touch, have/get something down to a fine art, be no slouch... more
  2. 2

     to consider a particular type of person sexually attractive

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

     Feeling sexual excitement or desire: on the pull, arouse, desire, excite, want, excited, sexy, randy, frisky, hot... more

• have an eye to something

  to be considering something for the future

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To intend to do something: intend, aim, plan on, mean, start out, propose, have big ideas/plans, be going to do something, envisage... more

• have eyes in the back of your head

  informal
  to notice everything that is happening around you

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To notice or recognize something or someone: notice, recognize, observe, identify, pick out, spot, detect, discern, tell, discover... more

• have/keep your eye on someone

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To look at someone in a particular way: bore into, eye, fix with, glower, leer, lock, lower, meet, outstare, stare down... more

• have/keep your eye on something

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  General words meaning to look or not look: look around, look, check on, examine, stare, inspect, survey, take in, see, gaze... more

• have one eye on

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  General words meaning to look or not look: look around, look, check on, examine, stare, inspect, survey, take in, see, gaze... more

• have your eye on someone

  1. 1

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

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

     To start a romantic or sexual relationship: ask out, flirt, chat up, pair off, chase, run after, pick up, make a pass at someone, sweep someone off their feet, have your eye on someone... more
  2. 2

     to consider someone appropriate for a particular job, position, or activity

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

     To want something: want, wish, hope, look for, long, aspire, crave, lust after, yearn, have your heart set on (doing) something... more

• have your eye on something

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To want something: want, wish, hope, look for, long, aspire, crave, lust after, yearn, have your heart set on (doing) something... more

• in front of someone’s (very) eyes

  in a place where someone can clearly see something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Clear to the senses: obvious, apparent, plain, visible, distinct, show up, noticeable, identifiable, perceptible, manifest... more

• in the eye of the storm

  in the middle of a difficult situation

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  In a difficult situation: pressed, oppressed, deadlocked, stuck, beleaguered, embroiled, worse off, out of your depth, in deep trouble, up against something... more

• in someone’s eyes

  according to what someone thinks or feels

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  According to someone: according to, officially, in someone’s opinion, by/from all accounts, in someone’s terms, from where someone stands, as/the way someone sees it, in someone’s sight... more

• in the eyes of the law/world etc.

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  According to something: according to, under, by, on (someone’s/something’s) merit, depending on, in accordance with, strictly speaking, in the eyes of the law/world etc., on a case-by-case basis... more

• keep an eye on

  to take care of someone or something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To protect or defend someone or something: protect, defend, save, stand up for, guard, shield, watch over, safeguard, shelter, keep (a) watch... more

• keep an eye out for

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To search for something or someone: go through, look out for, seek out, search out, look for, hunt down, search, pick through, probe, scavenge... more

• keep your eyes open/peeled (for)

  to keep looking for someone or something that you hope to find

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To search for something or someone: go through, look out for, seek out, search out, look for, hunt down, search, pick through, probe, scavenge... more

• the naked eye

  the human eye alone, without special equipment such as a telescope

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  The ability to see and problems with seeing: 20/20 vision, astigmatism, binocular vision, the blind, blind spot, cataract, double vision, eagle eye, eye, eyesight... more

• only have eyes for someone

  to only like or love a particular person

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To love or like a person: love, care for, adore, dote on, idolise, smother, long, fall for, worship the ground someone walks on... more

• open someone’s eyes to something

  to make someone realize the truth about a situation

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To make something easier to understand: explain, define, put across, interpret, clarify, run through, set out, lay out, illustrate... more

• open your eyes to something

  to allow yourself to accept or consider something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To think about someone or something in a particular way: associate, compartmentalize, go by, hive off, isolate, look, muse, regard, see, sentimentalize... more

• run/cast your eye(s) over something

  to look at or read something very quickly

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To look at someone or something quickly: glance, dart, peep, peek, flick, throw, give someone/something the once-over, sneak a look/glance etc. at, steal a glance/look, take one look at... more

• see eye to eye (with someone)

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To agree with someone or something: agree, go along with, concur, be in agreement, see eye to eye (with someone), be of like mind, be as one, subscribe to, chime with... more

• set/lay eyes on

  to see someone or something, especially for the first time

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  To see or not see someone or something: see, make out, spot, witness, glimpse, pick out, catch, observe, fall... more

• take your eyes off

  to stop looking at someone or something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  General words meaning to look or not look: look around, look, check on, examine, stare, inspect, survey, take in, see, gaze... more

• 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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Not known or difficult to know: secret, private, personal, strange, unknown, uncertain, hidden, mysterious, anonymous, obscure... more

• there is more to something than meets the eye

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Complicated and difficult to understand: complicated, difficult, complex, elaborate, confused, confusing, incomprehensible, intricate, contorted, involved... more

• through someone’s eyes

  as though a particular person is seeing or experiencing something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Ways of describing involvement and directness: directly, first-hand, vicarious, direct, participative, first/second/third hand, close to home, through someone’s eyes, from the horse’s mouth, squarely... more

• under someone’s eye

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

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Attentiveness and paying attention: attention, regard, focused, alert, attentive, concerned, attention span, observant, fixated, under someone’s critical eye... more

• with your eyes shut/closed

  used for saying that it is easy to do something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Easy to do and to be easy: easy, simple, convenient, elementary, effortless, manageable, trouble-free, mindless, undemanding, come naturally/easily/easy (to someone)... more

• with your eyes (wide) open

  knowing that there could be many problems in a situation

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of eye*

  Knowing and knowing about something: knowing, knowledgeable, informed, clued up, conversant, au fait, omniscient, familiar with something, awake to something, aware... more