black eye

American  

noun

black eyes plural

1. discoloration of the skin around the eye, resulting from a blow, bruise, etc.

2. a mark of shame, dishonor, etc..

   These slums are a black eye to our town.

3. damaged reputation.

   Your behavior will give the family a black eye.

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black eye British  

noun

1. bruising round the eye

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black eye Idioms  

1. A mark of shame, a humiliating setback, as in That there are enough homeless folks to need another shelter is a black eye for the administration. This metaphor alludes to having discolored flesh around the eye resulting from a blow. The term is also used literally, as in The mugger not only took Bill's wallet but gave him a black eye. [Late 1800s]

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• black eyes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of black eye

First recorded in 1595–1605

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

black eye

They reportedly helped work the president up, casting the red card as a black eye for the U.S.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026

“It’s a major black eye for college athletics,” Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

Still, the instant discount is something of a black eye, since it means investors who lined up to buy the fund at launch are already underwater.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

He recovers from that brush with death by slapping bandages on his face and sunglasses over his black eye to downplay the damage, a la Jack Nicholson’s Jake in “Chinatown.”

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2025

“You never see them in a hospital or resting in bed with a black eye or in a cast or anything.”

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle