sight of an eye

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sight of an eye" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "sight for sore eyes." You can use it to describe someone or something that is a welcome sight, especially after a long absence or during a difficult time.
Example: "After a long day at work, seeing my family was a sight for sore eyes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Not content with winning some of the most resounding victories in British history at the Nile (1798), Copenhagen (1801) and Trafalgar (1805)—and losing an arm and the sight of an eye in the process—he also had a tempestuous and very public love affair with Emma Hamilton, one of the most beautiful women of the day.

The Economist

He lost the sight of an eye in a cutting room as he tried to complete that film, and in his very last years, he played his dying self in a strange and uneasy dramatised documentary called Lightning Over Water, directed by one of his many admirers, Wim Wenders.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

How will Michel manage to teach his penguin flock to smile at the customer when they take your credit card but lose the sight of one eye when a bread roll is required?

The Guardian - Opinion

NHS Brown said his lifelong commitment to the NHS was inspired by his experience after losing the sight of one eye after a rugby accident at the age of 16. "Last year in Bournemouth I told you how when I was 16, I got injured playing rugby and lost the sight forever in my left eye.

The Guardian

The twins hear that dogs can see spirits, and if they rub rheum from a dog's eye into their own, this power will be conferred on them; they carry out an elaborate plan to kill an animal belonging to an old woman locally rumored to be a witch, but instead of supernatural sight, Mamo gets an eye infection and LaMamo fractures his leg falling out of a tree.

The New York Times - Books

In prison, he lost most of the sight of one eye, six months after a climbing accident had caused the retina to detach, and began writing poetry.

The Guardian - Books

In 1976, after an attack of shingles, he lost the sight of one eye.

The Guardian

Surviving many wounds, which cost him the sight of one eye, Wolseley became at 25 the youngest lieutenant colonel in the British army.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In writing about hallucinations, you mention your own experience since losing the sight of one eye to ocular cancer of "seeing things".

The Guardian

Private Wali, who lost the sight of one eye along with both limbs, said his father cried when he joined the Afghan National Army and begged him not to go.

The New York Times

In his defense, he did it to help save the sight of that eye.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "sight of an eye" in formal writing. Instead, consider more appropriate phrases like "a sight for sore eyes" when describing something pleasant to see, or rephrase to describe visual perception directly.

Common error

Don't use "sight of an eye" when you mean "a sight for sore eyes". The latter describes something welcome or pleasing to see, while the former is grammatically awkward and not a standard English idiom.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sight of an eye" functions primarily as a noun phrase that attempts to describe the ability to see through one eye. However, it's not a standard or idiomatic expression. As Ludwig AI points out, it's not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Unknown

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "sight of an eye" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct expression should be "a sight for sore eyes" when describing something pleasant to see. It is best to avoid using "sight of an eye" in formal writing and to consider alternative phrases or rephrasing your sentence for clarity. Examples show it occurring in News & Media and Science, but with low frequency. Remember to be precise in your language to convey your intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vision of an eye

Replaces "sight" with "vision", focusing on the ability to see through an eye.

the eye's vision

Rephrases to highlight the vision that belongs to the eye.

view from an eye

Emphasizes the perspective or outlook obtained through an eye.

an eye's perspective

Emphasizes the viewpoint or angle of vision provided by an eye.

perception through an eye

Highlights the cognitive process of interpreting visual information from an eye.

visual capacity of an eye

Highlights the eye's ability to see, focusing on its capability.

glimpse of an eye

Refers to a brief or fleeting look from the eye.

ocular sight

Uses a more technical term for the vision from the eye.

aspect of an eye

Focuses on a specific characteristic or feature related to an eye's vision.

image from an eye

Relates to the mental or visual representation formed by an eye.

FAQs

What does "a sight for sore eyes" mean?

The idiom "a sight for sore eyes" refers to someone or something that one is extremely glad to see. It is usually used after a long absence or when help is needed.

Is "sight of an eye" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "sight of an eye" may appear in some contexts, it's not considered a standard or grammatically sound expression in English. A more appropriate way to refer to vision would be "the sight of the eye" or simply "vision".

How can I describe something that is pleasing to see?

Instead of using "sight of an eye", consider using the idiom "a sight for sore eyes", or other descriptive phrases like "a welcome view", "a pleasing scene", or "a beautiful image".

What's the difference between "sight of an eye" and "a sight for sore eyes"?

"Sight of an eye" is a literal reference to the eye's capacity for vision and isn't a common idiomatic phrase. "A sight for sore eyes", on the other hand, is an idiom used to describe someone or something that you are very pleased to see.