Dictionary

sheep's eye en · NOUN

Etymology

From genitive of sheep + eye.

Meanings

1. A secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance.
   • those of an amorous roguish look derive their title even from the sheep, and we say such a one has a sheep's eye, not so much to denote the innocence as the simple slyness of the cast. 1864, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 250:
   • No less an eminence than former President Taft himself (who had long cast a sheep's eye on the high court) privately called the nomination “one of the deepest wounds that I have ever had as an American and a lover of the Constitution and a believer in progressive conservatism.” 2013, A Scott Berg, Wilson, Berkley, published 2014, page 400:
   • He had ever a sheep's eye for thee, and, if I remember rightly, thou wast sweet upon him once. 1875, Anthony Trollope, Never, never, -- Never, never: A Condensed Novel in Three Parts, after the Manner of Bret Harte:

Forms

Relateds

sheepish

Synonyms

cow eyes

Translations (4)

pl pożądliwe spojrzenie (a secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance) · ru влюблённый взор (a secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance) · fi kaihoisa katse (a secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance) · it occhi vitulini (a secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance)