keep one's eyes peeled en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
US, 19th century. Peeled probably refers to keeping one's eyelids retracted.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic, intransitive) To be on the alert, to be watchful.
And directly below is our Mesozoic jungle river -- where, if you are lucky, you just may catch a glimpse of a very rare carnivore. Keep your eyes peeled, everyone!
1990, Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park:lookouts posted to the port and starboard bows keep their eyes peeled for the ghostly outline of approaching traffic.
2003 November 14, Laura Bly, “Sailing into the past”, in USA Today:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeps one's eyes peeled | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| kept one's eyes peeled | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| kept one's eyes peeled | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| keeping one's eyes peeled | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Synonyms
keep one's eyes open (to be watchful) · keep an eye out (to be watchful)
Translations (13)
fr être sur ses gardes (to be watchful) · fi pitää silmällä (to be watchful) · fi pitää varansa (to be watchful) · es mantener los ojos bien abiertos (to be watchful) · fr être attentif (to be watchful) · da holde øjnene åbne (to be watchful) · fr être vigilant (to be watchful) · pl mieć oczy szeroko otwarte (to be watchful) · pl mieć oczy dookoła głowy (to be watchful) · de die Augen offen halten (to be watchful) · nl zijn ogen de kost geven (to be watchful) · it tenere gli occhi ben aperti (to be watchful) · pl mieć się na baczności (to be watchful)