# apple of someone's eye

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/apple-of-someones-eye
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

## Examples

- Her grandson is the apple of her eye.
- You are clearly the apple of your teacher's eye.
- The old dog was the apple of his eye, and he took her everywhere.
- The mechanic spent every weekend polishing his vintage motorcycle because it was truly the apple of his eye.
- The chef treats his rooftop garden as the apple of his eye, spending hours every morning carefully watering the rare herbs he grows there.
- Though he had three children, his youngest daughter had always been the apple of his eye, the one he spoke of with unmistakable pride.

## Origin

PIE word *h₂ébōl From Middle English appel of the eie (“pupil of the eye; cornea; (figurative) something highly valued”), from Old English æppel on the ēagan, used in biblical texts (Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8; Proverbs 7:2, Lamentations 2:18, and Zechariah 2:8; compare the quotations) to designate the pupil of the eye as something precious to be protected. The use of "apple" in English is apparently due to the pupil or cornea being thought of as a solid, globular object. (disputed)

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.