sheep's eye

English

Etymology

From genitive of sheep + eye.

Noun

sheep's eye (plural sheep's eyes)

1. A secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance.
   • 1864, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 250:

     those of an amorous roguish look derive their title even from the sheep, and we say such a one has a sheep's eye, not so much to denote the innocence as the simple slyness of the cast.

   • 1875, Anthony Trollope, Never, never, -- Never, never: A Condensed Novel in Three Parts, after the Manner of Bret Harte:

     He had ever a sheep's eye for thee, and, if I remember rightly, thou wast sweet upon him once.

   • 2013, A Scott Berg, Wilson, Berkley, published 2014, page 400:

     No less an eminence than former President Taft himself (who had long cast a sheep's eye on the high court) privately called the nomination “one of the deepest wounds that I have ever had as an American and a lover of the Constitution and a believer in progressive conservatism.”

Usage notes

Often used in plural. Sometimes "to cast a sheep's eye" or "throw a sheep's eye" on someone.

Synonyms

• cow eyes

Related terms

• sheepish

Translations

a secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance

• Finnish: kaihoisa katse
• Italian: occhi vitulini m pl
• Russian: влюблённый взор m (vljubljónnyj vzor), гла́зки (ru) m or pl (glázki) (a flirting look, lit.: "little eyes")

References

• [1] Miriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
• [2] "The Gaelic etymology of the languages of western Europe: And more especially of the English and Lowland Scotch, and their slang, cant, and colloquial dialects". By Charles Mackay.
• [3] "The Works of Joseph Addison Complete in Three Volumes Embracing the Whole of the 'Spectator,'" &c. By Joseph Addison.
• [4] "Never, never, -- Never, never: A Condensed Novel in Three Parts, after the Manner of Bret Harte". By Anthony Trollope.