All Eyes and Ears

All Eyes and Ears ENGLISH IDIOMS WITH “EYE” and “EAR” All Eyes and Ears ENGLISH No5/2011

turn a blind eye to something If you turn a blind eye to something, you ignore it intentionally. the apple of your eye If somebody is the apple of your eye, this means that you like them very much. My granddaughter is the apple of my eye. ENGLISH No5/2011

blink of an eye If something happens in the blink of an eye, it happens nearly instantaneously, with hardly enough time to notice it. The pickpocket disappeared in the blink of an eye. catch somebody’s eye If someone catches your eye, you find them attractive. The pretty girl near the door caught his eye. ENGLISH No5/2011

the eye of the storm A person or organization who is in the eye of the storm is deeply involved in a difficult situation which affects a lot of people. The minister was often in the eye of the storm during the debate on the war in Iraq. in the twinkling of an eye This expression means ‘very fast’ or ‘instantaneously’. Public opinion can change in the twinkling of an eye. ENGLISH No5/2011

more than meets the eye When something (or someone) is more complicated, difficult or interesting that it appears, it is said that there is more than meets the eye. He said he simply sold his shares, but I think there’s more to it than meets the eye. see eye to eye with someone To see eye to eye with somebody means to agree with them. ENGLISH No5/2011

eyes wide open If you do something with your eyes open, you are fully aware of what you are doing. I took on the job with my eyes wide open, so I’m not complaining. eagle eyes Someone who has eagle eyes sees or notices things more easily than others. Tony will help us find it – he’s got eagle eyes! ENGLISH No5/2011

eyes in the back of one’s head To say that someone has eyes in the back of their head means that they are very observant and notice everything happening around them. You need eyes in the back of your head to look after young children. feast one’s eyes on something If you feast your eyes on something, you are delighted and gratified by what you see. As he drove along the coast, he feasted his eyes on the beautiful scenery. ENGLISH No5/2011

in one’s mind’s eye If you can visualise something, or see an image of it in your mind, you see it in your mind’s eye. I can see the village in my mind’s eye but I can’t remember the name. a sight for sore eyes This expression refers to a person or thing you are happy to see. Sam! You’re a sight for sore eyes! Haven’t seen you in a long time. ENGLISH No5/2011

be all ears to be listening attentively or eagerly Tell your story – we’re all ears! bend someone’s ear Fig. to talk to someone, perhaps annoyingly. (As if talking so much that the other person’s ear is moved back.) Tom is over there, bending Jane’s ear about something. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bend your ear for an hour. ENGLISH No5/2011

give ear or lend ear to give attention, esp. favorable attention; listen; heed have nothing between the ears Informal to be stupid He’s very good-looking but has absolutely nothing between the ears, I’m afraid. in one ear and out the other heard but without effect His mind was made up, so my arguments went in one ear and out the other. ENGLISH No5/2011

be wet behind the ears to be young and not very experienced He’s fresh out of college, still wet behind the ears. can do something on their ear Australian informal if someone can do something on their ear, they can do it very easily. Ask Jane to make it, she can bake a soufflé on her ear. fall on deaf ears to be ignored or unheeded ENGLISH No5/2011

assault the ear Fig. [for sound or speech] to be very loud or persistent. That loud music assaults the ears! I can’t hear you with all that traffic noise assaulting my ears. be easy on the ear if music is easy on the ear, it has a pleasant and relaxing sound When I’m driving, I like to listen to music that’s easy on the ear and not too demanding. ENGLISH No5/2011

(somebody’s) ears are flapping Informal something that you say when you think that someone is listening to your private conversation. can do something on their ear Australian informal if someone can do something on their ear, they can do it very easily. Ask Jane to make it, she can bake a soufflé on her ear. ENGLISH No5/2011

music to someone’s ears Fig. a welcome sound to someone; news that someone is pleased to hear. on someone’s ear in a state of amazement, excitement, or uproar a controversial movie that set the film industry on its ear. set on its ear Informal to cause excitement, upheaval, etc. ENGLISH No5/2011