make eyes at

Idioms  

1. Ogle, flirt with, as in To her sister's disgust, she was always making eyes at the boys. Although slightly different versions, such as throw the eye at, are much older, this precise locution was first recorded in William Makepeace Thackeray's Henry Esmond (1852): “She used to make eyes at the Duke of Marlborough.” See also give someone the once-over.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

make eyes at

The young pair make eyes at each other.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

At their first family dinner together, Louis and Emily make eyes at each other, signaling that they are, pardon the pun, smitten kittens.

From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2021

Another two make eyes at each other across the room.

From Slate ● Dec. 13, 2020

But according to Gwendoline Christie — who plays Brienne — the Wildling leader continue to make eyes at her even after the camera stops rolling.

From Time ● Sep. 6, 2017

“Earth to B and Thompson! You plan on paying attention, or you just going to make eyes at each other all night?”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Related Words

• eyeball
• gawk