# eye up

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/eye-up
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To examine closely something coveted.

## Examples

- He keeps eyeing up the last piece of cake.
- The customer spent ten minutes eyeing up the expensive watch before finally deciding to buy it.
- As the auctioneer began the bidding, the collector stood in the back, silently eyeing up the rare painting he had traveled across the country to acquire.

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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.