evil eye

American  

[ee-vuhl ahy] / ˈi vəl ˈaɪ /

Or Evil Eye

noun

1. Often Facetious. a look expressing hostility, stern disapproval, jealousy, etc..

   As he left he turned and cast an evil eye in my direction, full of contempt.

   I’d better get off the phone—I’m getting the evil eye from my mom.

2. a look thought to be capable of inflicting bad luck or misfortune on the person at whom it is directed.

   One did not need to be a witch to give the evil eye—it could happen accidentally.

3. the power, superstitiously attributed to certain persons, of inflicting bad luck or misfortune by a look.

   The evil eye was recognized by the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and ancient Egyptians from as early as 3000 b.c.

4. an attack carried out by means of magic power exercised through a look; a curse, jinx, or spell.

   Do you know anyone who can remove the evil eye?

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evil eye British  

noun

1. a look or glance superstitiously supposed to have the power of inflicting harm or injury

2. the power to inflict harm, etc, by such a look

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evil eye Idioms  

1. The power to cause injury or misfortune, as in The tomatoes died shortly after planting—I must have an evil eye. The source of this expression is the ancient superstitious belief that some individuals could inflict harm on others simply by looking at them. Today the term is generally used figuratively or ironically, as above, and also in the form give someone the evil eye, which means “glare malevolently at someone.” For example, Helen gave his cat the evil eye, hoping it would stay out of her garden. [Late 1300s]

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Other Word Forms

• evil-eyed adjective

Etymology

Origin of evil eye

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English

Example Sentences

The 21-year-old says a lot of her friends are the same and reference the "evil eye" as a reason for not posting their partners.

From BBC

“It’s fun,” she said of the custom hearts, cherries, pink octopuses and evil eyes she quilts and appliques on to sweatshirts.

From Los Angeles Times

“Nazar” is an Arabic word that refers to the concept of the “evil eye,” an envious glare believed to cause harm to those it falls on.

From Los Angeles Times

They were also sending “evil eyes” to the jurors as they were transfixed watching and listening to the back-and-forth between Cohen and the lawyers for the prosecution and the defense.

From Salon

He turned several times and gave us both the evil eye.

From Literature

Related Words

• bad eye