cautious eye

USAGE SUMMARY

'cautious eye' is a perfectly correct phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the need for vigilance and careful observation, or simply to describe a person who is paying attention to their surroundings. For example, "She kept a cautious eye on the young children as they played in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Most women have a cautious eye on the future.

The New York Times - Sports

A cautious eye also has to be kept on the powerful hedge funds.

The Economist

"We're keeping a cautious eye on rising fuel prices," Mr. Halter said.

The New York Times

"Trouble in paradise?" It'll be barbed insults and cautious eye contact at dawn.

The Guardian - Sport

But executives are keeping a cautious eye on the economy and gasoline prices, which could curb consumers' appetite for meat if they climb further.

The New York Times

Even so, with the huge uptake in phone usage over the last two decades, it's pragmatic to keep a cautious eye on emergent trends.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Seen through his protagonist's cautious eyes, even hackneyed tropes of Brooklyn life, such as trips to Ebbets Field and Coney Island, take on a subtle strangeness.

The New Yorker

We see them through his cautious eyes; as their car pulls up, he takes out a gun, then tucks it away just in time to greet them.

The New Yorker

One week after the Alem?operation, the culmination of a weeklong street battle against drug gangs that claimed dozens of lives across Rio, residents here were viewing the security presence through cautious eyes.

The New York Times

But, I do think the travel security operations centers at companies that regularly have employees moving between these countries need to keep very keen and cautious eyes on these developments.

TechCrunch

Perhaps with too cautious an eye to a larger reading public, Fischer (a professor of the history of theater at the University of Munich) tends to steer clear of the musically technical in favor of a more generalized discussion of the sort that in earlier times we used to term "music appreciation".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cautious eye" when you want to emphasize vigilance and careful observation, especially in situations involving potential risks or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "cautious eye" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "watchful gaze" or "careful observation" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cautious eye" primarily functions as a noun phrase that describes a state of vigilance or careful observation. It often acts as the object of a verb, such as "keep" or "cast", indicating the act of maintaining watchfulness. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cautious eye" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey a state of vigilance and careful observation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s appropriate for describing someone’s watchful attention, especially in potentially risky situations. The phrase appears frequently in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and business writing. While useful, remember to avoid overuse and consider synonyms like "watchful gaze" or "careful observation" to add variety to your writing. Keeping these points in mind will ensure you use "cautious eye" effectively and appropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

watchful gaze

Replaces "cautious" with "watchful" and "eye" with "gaze", altering the specific descriptive words while retaining the focus on careful observation.

vigilant outlook

Substitutes "cautious" with "vigilant" and "eye" with "outlook", shifting from a literal body part to a more metaphorical perspective.

careful observation

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more direct and literal description of the act of observing carefully.

circumspect attention

Uses more formal synonyms, replacing "cautious" with "circumspect" and "eye" with "attention", increasing the formality of the phrase.

guarded perspective

Implies a protective element in the observation, suggesting a viewpoint influenced by caution.

wary consideration

Shifts the focus to the act of considering something with wariness, rather than just observing.

prudent surveillance

Suggests a more systematic and careful monitoring, implying a structured approach to observation.

sharp lookout

Emphasizes the intensity and focus of the observation, highlighting the keenness of the watch.

alert monitoring

Focuses on the ongoing and responsive nature of the observation, emphasizing the readiness to react.

mindful awareness

Highlights the conscious and deliberate nature of the observation, emphasizing the attentiveness involved.

FAQs

How can I use "cautious eye" in a sentence?

You can use "cautious eye" to describe someone who is carefully observing a situation or person. For example, "She kept a "cautious eye" on the children playing near the pool."

What are some alternatives to "cautious eye"?

Some alternatives to "cautious eye" include "watchful gaze", "careful observation", or "vigilant outlook".

Is it correct to say "cast a cautious eye"?

Yes, "cast a "cautious eye"" is a common and correct usage of the phrase, often used to describe directing one's attention warily towards something.

What does it mean to keep a "cautious eye" on something?

To keep a "cautious eye" on something means to monitor it carefully and attentively, usually because you anticipate potential problems or risks. It suggests a state of alert observation.