gimlet eye

noun

1. a sharp or piercing glance.
2. an eye that appears to give a sharp or piercing look.

Other Words From

• gimlet-eyed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gimlet eye¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Someone with a different perspective and a bit of a gimlet eye.

From Washington Post

So, I think I’ve always brought a certain kind of gimlet eye on New York’s claims of primacy.

From Freakonomics

Murdoch was known to personally track all of the editorial budgets with a gimlet eye.

From The Daily Beast

There are reasons, in other words, for hard-shell conservatives to give him the gimlet eye.

From The Daily Beast

What the baron recoils from in horror, others discern with a gimlet eye to the main social chance.

From The Daily Beast

Rebecca knew that they were doing no harm, but that did not prevent her hoping to escape the gimlet eye of Mr. Came.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence I pulled away from land, with the heavy boat towing the light one, and even Sandy Macraw unable to lay his gimlet eye on me.

From Project Gutenberg

I was fetehin' some oats to Gimlet Eye, an' didn't take any particular notice.

From Project Gutenberg

"Something in that," said London Bill, a gleam of admiration in his beady gimlet eye.

From Project Gutenberg

Ay, cried Wewitzer, I now understand what they call a gimlet eye.

From Project Gutenberg