释义 |
ˈweather-eye [? a jocular use of the Naut. sense, weather n. 8; or perh. = the eye which is specially used for observing the weather. Cf. ON. veðr-eygr, ? keen-eyed.] Used in fig. phrases, such as to keep one's weather-eye open, to be watchful and alert, keep one's wits about one.
1829P. Egan Boxiana 2nd Ser. II. 505 Lads of the Fancy, who always keep their ‘weather eye’ up towards business, i.e. looking after the blunt. 1839Hood Storm at Hastings 189 Howbeit his weather eye the seaman aim'd Across the calm, and hinted by his speech A gale next morning. 1846Dickens Dombey x. 89 Joe is awake, Ma'am... Josh has his weather-eye open, Sir. 1851H. Melville Moby Dick I. xxxiv. 253 All whale-ships' standing orders, ‘Keep your weather eye open, and sing out every time’. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. ii. v, You look out. Keep your weather eye awake. 1887Rider Haggard She vii. 88 Job returned in a great state of nervousness, and keeping his weather eye fixed upon every woman who came near him. 1916‘Taffrail’ Pincher Martin iv. 53 Even the captain and the navigator..did not seem to be taking things very seriously, though in reality they both had their weather⁓eyes very much lifting. 1959B. Wootton Soc. Sci. 10, I have tried to keep a weather eye open to what is going on elsewhere: references to work in other areas..will be found scattered through these pages. 1981Times 7 Apr. 6/7 The Russians..are keeping a weathereye on other navies. |