see with half an eye
Meaning: To perceive something obvious with very little effort or attention.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The phrase pictures seeing with only half of one's vision—if something is so clear it registers even with diminished perception, it is unmistakably plain.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- have someone's guts for garters — To punish someone severely, especially with angry or violent reprimand.
- wet one's whistle — To have a drink.
- bad blood — Persistent hostility or deep resentment between people.
- pull teeth — To accomplish something with great difficulty, requiring much effort and persistence.
- feet first — Dead, or in the manner of a corpse.
- ne pas fermer l’œil de la nuit — To be unable to sleep; to stay awake all night.
More English idioms
- mugged by reality — To experience a sudden, brutal confrontation with harsh truth after living in comfortable…
- plow the sands — To expend great effort on something completely futile or worthless.
- loaded for bear — Fully prepared and equipped, mentally and materially, to face a difficult challenge or co…
- spin one's wheels — To work hard without making any real progress toward a goal.
- Lord willing and the creek don't rise — Used to express contingency on circumstances beyond one's control, especially minor natur…
- until the cows come home — For an indefinitely long time; forever or seemingly forever.
From our proverbs
- No one is a fool always; every one sometimes. — Foolish moments afflict everyone regardless of wisdom, so judge people by patterns, not i…
- A fool may ask more questions in half an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years. — Foolish questioning consumes time unproductively while wisdom requires patient, deliberat…
- A fool may give a wise man counsel. — Even those lacking judgment can occasionally offer valuable advice through chance or simp…