# twinkle in one's father's eye

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/twinkle-in-ones-fathers-eye
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A notional look of anticipation or hope (either for sex or a child) in one's father's eyes at or around the time of one's conception.

## Examples

- He was not even a twinkle in his father's eye back then.
- The old family house was built long before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye.
- The ancestral estate had stood for generations, existing in quiet solitude long before any of us were even a twinkle in our father's eye.

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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.