in the eye of

Idioms  

1. In the center or focal point of something, as in They were right in the eye of this controversy . This term employs eye in the sense of “a central spot,” a usage dating from the mid-1700s.

2. in the eyes of . In the view or opinion of, from the standpoint of. For example, In the eyes of his fans Elvis could do no wrong , or In the eyes of the law he was a fugitive . The eyes here allude to their function, seeing. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

“It’s really a thumb in the eye of places that are affected by climate change.”

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

Microsculptures on display in the exhibition include artwork in the eye of a needle, on a pin head and one inside a single human hair - all so small they are only seen through microscopes.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

The bill may be big, but for retailers, the beauty will remain strictly in the eye of the high-end beholder.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

But it’s important to remember that irrationality is often in the eye of the beholder.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

And one, one landed in the eye of a boy, and she saw it as if she were right there.

From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu