evil eye
or E·vil Eye
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.
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.
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.
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?
Origin of evil eye
1Other words from evil eye
- e·vil-eyed, adjective
Words Nearby evil eye
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use evil eye in a sentence
We knock wood, we do that tfoo-tfoo-tfoo spitting thing to ward off the evil eye.
“[T]he unaffiliated are about as likely as Christians to believe in reincarnation, astrology, or the evil eye,” the report says.
Pew Report Finding More Americans Unaffiliated With Religion Is Bad News for GOP | Michelle Goldberg | October 10, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTHe sailed in circles, while his evil eye looked down at the frightened, scampering White Wyandottes.
Seven O'Clock Stories | Robert Gordon AndersonI soon found the temple and the Brahmin, and accosting him, I begged for a charm against the evil eye for my child.
Confessions of a Thug | Philip Meadows TaylorBesides, they were a protection against witchcraft or the evil eye (fascinti), especially the lnulae.
The Private Life of the Romans | Harold Whetstone Johnston
These unwonted accompaniments of a bachelor supper were looked upon with an evil eye by some of the guests.
Alone | Marion HarlandHe lifted the lump to the light of his lamp, and from the centre of it a mocking evil eye leered back at him.
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine | John Fox, Jr.
British Dictionary definitions for evil eye
a look or glance superstitiously supposed to have the power of inflicting harm or injury
the power to inflict harm, etc, by such a look
Derived forms of evil eye
- evil-eyed, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with evil eye
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]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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