bear the sight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bear the sight" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It can be used in contexts where someone is expressing the ability to endure or tolerate seeing something, often something unpleasant or distressing. Example: "I could hardly bear the sight of the devastation left behind after the storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

I could not bear the sight.

The Economist

She hadn't, unable to bear the sight.

The New York Times

His wife could not bear the sight.

The New York Times

"Even now, I can't bear the sight of snow," she says.

Independent

"I … could not bear the sight of it," she said in an email to AP.

The Guardian

At that point I could not bear the sight any longer, and I lowered the periscope and dived deep.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Moreover, for our intellect the First Principle is the condition of knowing without being known by us, as the sun is the condition of our vision even though we cannot bear the direct sight of it.

SEP

She could not bear the lopsided sight of the stalled steps; they were like someone endlessly limping at the other end of the shop floor.

The New Yorker

They'll get stuck and you simply dispose of the strips when you can't bear looking at the sight anymore––for some this is one stuck fly, for others, maybe 20! Purchase mastic essential oil.

WikiHow

For imaging arrays the aberrations cause a departure from perfect point imaging by increasing coupling to array detectors located at angles further off the bore sight of the telescope.

Infrared Physics & Technology

Hugh O'Brian, star of 60-year-old show The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, hung signage in the hallway inquiring, "He's Still Alive???"; said signage instructed readers to "See For yourself!" Once one took the bait, they bore witness to the sight of an elderly, yet still breathing, O'Brian eating a sandwich next to his parked Rascal scooter. .

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bear the sight" to express a strong inability to look at something, often due to emotional distress or unpleasantness. For example: "She couldn't bear the sight of the abandoned house."

Common error

Avoid using "bear the sight" when simply describing a preference or mild dislike. This phrase implies a significant emotional or psychological burden associated with seeing something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear the sight" functions as a verb phrase, where 'bear' acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ('the sight'). Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bear the sight" is a phrase used to express a strong aversion to looking at something, often because it is emotionally or physically distressing. According to Ludwig AI, while grammatically correct, the phrase isn't always the most common choice, and its impact lies in conveying a high level of discomfort or inability to witness something. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize a significant emotional burden. Related phrases such as "endure the sight" and "tolerate the view" can be used as alternatives, depending on the specific context and desired level of intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endure the sight

Highlights the act of withstanding a visual experience that is unpleasant or challenging.

tolerate the view

Focuses on accepting or allowing a visual experience without necessarily implying distress.

brave the view

Suggests facing a visual experience that is frightening or intimidating.

stomach the view

Implies a strong aversion to what is being seen, suggesting it's almost sickening.

put up with the view

Suggests reluctantly accepting or tolerating a visual experience.

face the image

Emphasizes confronting or directly looking at something, often implying bravery or necessity.

grin and bear the sight

Implies forcing oneself to tolerate an unpleasant visual experience with a positive attitude.

handle the spectacle

Suggests managing or dealing with a large or dramatic visual display.

cope with the spectacle

Focuses on managing or dealing with an overwhelming or difficult visual experience.

bear witness to

Highlights the act of observing something, often in a formal or legal context.

FAQs

How can I use "bear the sight" in a sentence?

Use "bear the sight" to express an inability to look at something distressing or unpleasant. For example: "He couldn't bear the sight of the injured animal."

What can I say instead of "bear the sight"?

Alternatives include "tolerate the view", "endure the sight", or "stomach the view", depending on the intensity of the aversion.

Is it more common to say "bear the sight" or "can't bear to see"?

"Can't bear to see" is generally more common and versatile. "Bear the sight" specifically emphasizes the visual aspect of the experience, and often conveys a higher degree of emotional distress.

What's the difference between "bear the sight" and "turn a blind eye"?

"Bear the sight" indicates an inability to watch something because it's distressing. "Turn a blind eye" means to deliberately ignore something, often something wrong or immoral, even though you are aware of it.