green-eyed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "green-eyed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone with green eyes, often used figuratively to refer to envy, jealousy, or other emotional reactions. Example sentence: "Alice was feeling green-eyed when her friend got promoted over her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Musketeer, vampire hunter, green-eyed Iago.

Independent

Creme — ruddy-complected, green-eyed, and white-haired — answered.

The New Yorker

It is not just the green-eyed who fervently hope so.

The Economist

But people would be deterred from acting on the green-eyed monster.

The Economist

Miss Brass is a striking green-eyed redhead in her thirties & her legs are very long.

The New Yorker

Both my inner green-eyed monster and my inner helicopter parent are yammering.

The New York Times

The green-eyed beauty looked me over as if she were buying a horse.

The Guardian - Books

SEX, TALK AND SHAKESPEARE -- The green-eyed monster rears its head at 6 30 tonight.

The New York Times

But the green-eyed monster has hold of the coach's son (Josh Hartnett).

The New York Times

You may even come up with the next "The world's mine oyster", or "green-eyed monster".

The Guardian

But, green-eyed Boots Meal Dealers, rejoice, for all this might be about to change.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "green-eyed" to describe a person's physical appearance, ensure it aligns with the context. For figurative use relating to envy or jealousy, confirm that the context clearly conveys this meaning to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "green-eyed" solely for physical description when the intended meaning is to convey envy. If the context isn't clear, readers may misinterpret the intended emotion. Use stronger synonyms like "envious" or "jealous" to minimize ambiguity in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "green-eyed" primarily functions as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun to describe either the color of someone's eyes or, figuratively, their state of envy or jealousy. Ludwig AI confirms its valid usage in both contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "green-eyed" functions primarily as a compound adjective with two main applications: describing the physical characteristic of green eyes or, more figuratively, denoting jealousy or envy. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It appears most frequently in News & Media sources, with less common usage in formal or scientific contexts. When using "green-eyed", be mindful of the intended meaning and ensure it aligns with the context to avoid ambiguity. Be careful with tone, and consider replacing it with jealousy, envy or "envious" in more formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with green eyes

Similar to "having eyes of green" but shorter and more common for physical descriptions.

having eyes of green

Directly describes the physical attribute of having green eyes; slightly more literal.

jealous

Similar to "envious", emphasizing jealousy rather than physical appearance.

showing envy

Focuses on the outward manifestation of envy.

envious

Focuses solely on the feeling of envy, omitting the physical description.

exhibiting jealousy

Similar to "showing envy", but with a slightly more formal tone.

filled with jealousy

Emphasizes the state of being overcome by jealousy.

bitterly jealous

Adds intensity to the feeling of jealousy, conveying a stronger emotion.

consumed by envy

Highlights the intensity of the envious feeling.

with a jealous gaze

Highlights the visual aspect of jealousy.

FAQs

How can I use "green-eyed" in a sentence?

You can use "green-eyed" to describe someone with green eyes, such as "The "green-eyed" girl smiled", or to describe someone who is jealous or envious, such as "He gave his rival a "green-eyed" look".

What does it mean to call someone a "green-eyed monster"?

The phrase "green-eyed monster" refers to jealousy or envy. It is a metaphor popularized by Shakespeare in Othello. If someone is referred to as the "green-eyed monster", it means they are consumed by jealousy.

What are some synonyms for "green-eyed" when referring to jealousy?

Synonyms for "green-eyed" when it means jealous include "envious", "jealous", "covetous", or "resentful". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use the phrase "green-eyed monster" in formal writing?

While "green-eyed monster" is a well-known idiom, it may be more appropriate to use more direct language such as "jealousy" or "envy" in formal writing to maintain a professional tone.