ENGLISH
REFERENCE

have an eye for

idiom
Meaning

To notice, discern, or appreciate easily.


Examples
SIMPLE

She has a great eye for choosing beautiful colors.

CONTEXTUAL

Because he has an eye for detail, he is perfect for the job of proofreading our reports.

COMPLEX

The curator has an eye for hidden talent, often discovering unknown artists long before they gain recognition in the wider art world.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

    compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.

  2. 02

    apple of someone's eye

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

  3. 03

    blink of an eye

    A moment (a very short period of time).

  4. 04

    camel through the eye of a needle

    Hyperbole to illustrate something that is impossible to do or to make happen.

  5. 05

    catch someone's eye

    To capture someone's attention.

  6. 06

    catch the eye

    To attract the attention

  7. 07

    close one eye

    to look the other way, to deliberately ignore or overlook (a mistake or transgression).

  8. 08

    dry eye

    An eye which is not crying, i.e. someone emotionally unmoved.

Last updated April 17, 2026