lay eyes on

Idioms  

1. Also,. Look at, see, as in As soon as I laid eyes on him I knew he would be perfect for the lead in our play, or I'd never set eyes on such a beautiful gown. The first term dates from the early 1200s and the third from the late 1300s; the second, using clap in the sense of “a sudden movement,” dates from the first half of the 1800s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lay eyes on

To the droves of Portuguese fans who packed NRG Stadium just to lay eyes on him, Ronaldo had never left.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Others assembled nearby, hoping for a chance to merely lay eyes on her or, perhaps, to get lucky enough to join the meet-and-greet.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2025

Given the headlines covering this study, you might think it wise to quickly cross the street if you so much as lay eyes on a piece of bacon.

From Slate ● Aug. 2, 2025

Strong words from someone I had never met and would more than likely never lay eyes on again.

From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2024

“It’s not a trap. The sheriff never wants to lay eyes on you again,” I said.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen