set eyes on something Definition

eye
noun

1. The organ of vision, usually one of a pair.
2. The area of the face around the eye.
3. Sight; vision.

Example: Surgeons need good eyes
Form: eyes (often)
4. Attention, gaze or observation.

Example: catch someone's eye
Example: in the public eye
5. The ability to appreciate and judge.

Example: an eye for beauty
Thesaurus: appreciation, taste, discrimination, discernment, perception, opinion, judgement.
6. A look or expression.

Example: a hostile eye
7. bot.
The bud of a tuber such as a potato.
8. An area of calm and low pressure at the centre of a tornado, etc.

Thesaurus: centre, core, heart.
9. Any rounded thing, especially when hollow, eg the hole in a needle or the small wire loop that a hook fits into.

verb

eyed, eyeing, eying
1. To look at something carefully.

Derivative: eyed

Having eyes of the specified kind.

Spotted.

Derivative: eyeless
adj

Idiom: an eye for an eye

Retaliation; justice enacted in the same way or to the same degree as the crime.

Idiom: be all eyes

colloq
To be vigilant.
Thesaurus: be observant, be attentive, be aware, be perceptive.

Idiom: cast an eye over something (run an eye over something)

To examine it cursorily.

Idiom: clap eyes on someone (lay eyes on someone, set eyes on someone, set eyes on something)

colloq
Note: usually with negatives
To see them or it.
Example: I never want to set eyes on you again
Thesaurus: notice, behold, observe, encounter.

Idiom: close one's eyes to something (shut one's eyes to something)

To ignore or disregard it.
Thesaurus: ignore, refuse, reject, shun.

Idiom: eyes down

The command at the start of a game of bingo or other non-physical contest.

Idiom: get one's eye in (keep one's eye in)

To become or remain familiar with the way in which a game or sport is played.

Idiom: give an eye to something

colloq
To attend to it.

Idiom: give someone the eye (give someone the glad eye)

colloq
To look at them in a sexually inviting way.

Idiom: have an eye to something

To have it as a purpose or intention.

Idiom: have eyes for someone

To be interested in them.

Idiom: have one's eye on something

To be eager to acquire it.

Idiom: in one's mind's eye

In one's imagination.

Idiom: in the eyes of someone

In their estimation or opinion.

Idiom: in the wind's eye

Against the wind.

Idiom: keep an eye on someone or something

colloq
To keep them or it under observation.
Thesaurus: look after, watch over, guard, protect.

Idiom: keep one's eyes skinned (keep one's eyes peeled)

colloq
To watch or look out.

Idiom: make eyes at someone

colloq
To look at them with sexual interest or admiration, or in a sexually inviting way.
Thesaurus: flirt with, leer at, ogle, tease, come on to.

Idiom: more than meets the eye

More complicated or difficult, etc than appearances suggest.

Idiom: my eye!

colloq
Nonsense!

Idiom: one in the eye for someone

colloq
A harsh disappointment or rebuff for them.

Idiom: see eye to eye with someone

To be in agreement with them; to think alike.

Idiom: under the eye of someone

Under their observation.

Idiom: be up to the eyes in something (be up to one's eyes in something)

To be busy or deeply involved in (work, a commitment, etc).
Thesaurus: be overwhelmed, be inundated, be busy, be up to one's ears.

Idiom: with an eye to something

Having it as a purpose or intention.

Idiom: with one's eyes open

With full awareness of what one is doing.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon eage.

Phrasal Verb: eye someone or something up

To assess their worth or attractiveness.