gimlet eye
Americannoun
-
a sharp or piercing glance.
-
an eye that appears to give a sharp or piercing look.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gimlet eye
First recorded in 1815–25
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland keeps a gimlet eye on inflation data, and it has some estimates.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 19, 2025
His Joel had a gimlet eye and wore his heart on his sleeve; he was sometimes goofy but always in on the joke.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2025
His Napoleon views the world with a gimlet eye and firmly compressed lips.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 22, 2023
“I’ll order copies of a new book on Mayan ethnobotany,” he added, “but I won’t read it with the same gimlet eye that Nach would.”
From New York Times ● Aug. 7, 2021
He looked them all over with a gimlet eye.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
