eagle eye

noun

1. unusually sharp visual powers; keen ability to watch or observe.

2. a person who has sharp vision or who maintains a keen watchfulness.

3. alert watchfulness.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eagle eye¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

Idioms and Phrases

Unusually keen sight; also, keen intellectual vision. For example, Antiques dealers have an eagle eye for valuable objects, or A good manager has an eagle eye for employee errors. [Late 1500s]