All Eyes and Ears

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

(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.