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1
[countable] either of the two organs on the face that you see with The suspect has dark hair and green eyes. to close/open your eyes to drop/lower your eyes (= to look down) There were tears in his eyes. I have something in my eye. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. Her eyes widened in horror. to make/avoid eye contact with someone (= to look/avoid looking at them at the same time as they look at you) All eyes were on him (= everyone was looking at him) as he walked onto the stage. Topic CollocationsPhysical AppearanceA person may be described as having:eyes
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/a pointy/a Roman/an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy beard
- a full/thin goatee
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil mustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/small/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/ginger/gray hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/center part
- a long/short/thick/slender/ (disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/round/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/ (informal) (often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/ (informal) (disapproving) flabby thighs/calves
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/slim/slender/hourglass figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
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- 2
-eyed (in adjectives) having the type or number of eyes mentioned a blue-eyed blonde a one-eyed monster
- 3 [singular] the ability to see A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand. see eagle eye way of seeing
- 4 [countable, usually singular] a particular way of seeing something He looked at the design with the eye of an engineer. She viewed the findings with a critical eye. To my eye, the windows seem out of proportion. She has a good eye for color. of needle
- 5 [countable] the hole in the end of a needle that you put the thread through on clothes
- 6 [countable] a small metal ring that a small hook fits into, used for fastening clothes It fastens with a hook and eye. of storm
- 7
[singular] an/the eye of a/the storm, tornado, hurricane, etc. a calm area at the center of a storm, etc.
- 8 [countable] a dark mark on a potato from which another plant will grow see bull's-eye, evil eye, fisheye lens, googly eyes, red-eye Idioms
- 1to be watching someone carefully, especially to check that they do not do anything wrong And remember, I'll have my eye on you so you'd better behave.
- 2to be thinking about asking someone out, offering someone a job, etc. because you think they are attractive, good at their job, etc. He has his eye on the new girl in your class.
- 1[transitive, intransitive] (also meet somebody's gaze, look, etc., people's eyes meet) if you meet someone's eye(s), you look directly at them as they look at you; if two people's eyes meet, they look directly at each other She was afraid to meet my eye. Their eyes met across the crowded room. She met his gaze without flinching.
- 2[transitive] meet somebody's eye(s) your eyes if a sight meets your eyes, you see it A terrible sight met their eyes.
part of body
a person or thing that is loved more than any other She is the apple of her father's eye.
to the horizon (= where the sky meets the land or ocean) The cornfields stretched on all sides as far as the eye could see.
to be watching someone or something carefully and with a lot of interest The kids were all eyes as he slowly unwrapped the package.
people all have different ideas about what is beautiful
in someone's presence; in front of someone He had seen his life's work destroyed before his very eyes.
to have a lot of something to deal with We're up to our eyes in work.
a view of something from a high position looking down From the plane we had a bird's eye view of Manhattan.
to attract someone's attention Can you catch the waiter's eye?
to look at or listen to someone or something carefully and with a lot of attention
pleasant to listen to or look at The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye.
used to show that you do not believe someone or something “It's an antique.” “An antique, my eye!”
used to say that you should punish someone by doing to them what they have done to you or to someone else They advocate a justice system that works on the principle of an eye for an eye.
used to say that someone has been greedy by taking more food than they can eat
to look at someone or something and get great pleasure
to be seen only by a particular person I'll lend you the letters but they're for your eyes only.
to be able to judge if things look attractive, valuable, etc. I've never had much of an eye for fashion. She has an eye for a bargain.
to be thinking about buying something
to be aware of everything that is happening around you, even things that seem difficult or impossible to see You can't get away with anything in her class. She has eyes in the back of her head.
to be able to notice or see everything She's bound to notice that chipped glass. The woman has eyes like a hawk!
to look at or watch something while doing something else, especially in a secret way so that other people do not notice During his talk, most of the delegates had one eye on the clock.
to always be looking for the chance to have a new sexual relationship
very quickly; in a short time
in someone's opinion or according to the way that they see the situation She can do no wrong in her father's eyes. To Western eyes, it may seem that the city is overcrowded.
according to the law, most people in the world, etc. In the eyes of the law she is guilty though few ordinary people would think so.
well known to many people through newspapers and television She doesn't want her children growing up in the public eye.
very quickly synonym in an instant Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, her whole life had been turned upside down.
to watch someone or something carefully Over the next few months we will keep a close eye on sales.
to be quick to notice or hear things
to take care of someone or something and make sure that they are not harmed, damaged, etc. We've asked the neighbors to keep an eye on the house for us while we're away.
to continue to give your attention to what is most important
to look for someone or something while you are doing other things Police have asked residents to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
to look carefully for someone or something We kept our eyes peeled for any signs of life.
to watch someone or something carefully in case you need to take action Keep a weather eye on your competitors.
(usually used in negative sentences) to see someone or something I hope I never set eyes on this place again!
(usually used in negative sentences and questions) to look straight at someone without feeling embarrassed or ashamed Can you look me in the eye and tell me you're not lying? I'll never be able to look her in the face again!
to look at someone in a way that shows that you find them sexually attractive He's definitely giving you the eye!
your imagination He pictured the scene in his mind's eye.
the normal power of your eyes without the help of an instrument The planet should be visible with/to the naked eye.
to show no surprise or embarrassment when something unusual happens She didn't bat an eye when I told her my news.
to be very surprised at something you hear/see I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked in.
used to say that everyone was very emotional about something There wasn't a dry eye in the house when they announced their engagement.
to not share the same views as someone about something The two of them have never seen eye to eye on politics.
to find someone or something so interesting, attractive, etc. that you watch them all the time
to be in love with only one particular person He's only ever had eyes for his wife.
to realize or make someone realize the truth about something Traveling really opens your eyes to other cultures.
to be very attractive to look at
to try to trick someone; to hide your real actions or intentions from someone
to look at or examine something quickly Could you just run your eyes over this report?
to think about or see something the way that another person sees it Try looking at it through her eyes for a change. Events are seen through the eyes of a Polish refugee.
to see something by accident or not very clearly because you see it from the side of your eye and are not looking straight at it Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him coming closer.
to pretend that you have not noticed something so that you do not have to deal with it You can't just close your eyes to his violence. They seem intent on shutting their eyes to the problems of pollution.
a person or thing that you are pleased to see
to stop giving your attention to what is most important
to pretend not to notice something bad that is happening, so you do not have to do anything about it The authorities were either unaware of the problem or turned a blind eye to it.
being watched carefully by someone The children played under the watchful eye of their father.
fully aware of the possible problems or results of a particular course of action I went into this with my eyes open so I guess I only have myself to blame.
having enough experience to be able to do something easily I've made this trip so often, I could do it with my eyes shut.
with the intention of doing something He bought the warehouse with an eye to converting it into a hotel.
Check pronunciation: eye