sight unseen
Not having seen the object beforehand.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I bought the used car sight unseen.”
“He purchased the house sight unseen because he trusted his friend's recommendation about the neighborhood.”
“The collector acquired the rare painting sight unseen, relying entirely on the reputation of the auction house to verify its authenticity.”
first recorded 19th c.
Absolute construction reportedly first attested 1892.
- 01
can't stand the sight of
To hate vehemently; to really despise.
- 02
catch sight of
to see for a brief period; to get a glimpse of
- 03
get out of my sight
Stop bothering or harassing me; go away.
- 04
hidden in plain sight
Seemingly hidden, but actually not hidden and easy to find.
- 05
hide in plain sight
To be unnoticeable, by staying visible in a setting that masks presence.
- 06
love at first sight
an instantaneous attraction
- 07
not a pretty sight
Something disappointing, disquieting, disreputable, or otherwise unworthy of admiration.
- 08
out of sight
Not yet attainable.
Last updated August 10, 2026