apple of my eye
Meaning
Someone you love and cherish deeply; a favorite person who is very special to you.
Origin
From Old English, where “apple of the eye” referred to the pupil (seen as a round object). Because the eye is precious to protect, the phrase came to mean a dearly cherished person. It appears in early English texts and later in the Bible (e.g., Deuteronomy/Psalms in older translations).
Notes
Warm, affectionate, slightly poetic. Most often used for a child, partner, or someone you cherish. Not typically used for objects (unless stylistic).
Examples
-
My youngest daughter has always been the apple of my eye.
-
That old guitar is the apple of his eye; he’s kept it since high school.
-
Even in a crowded room, the apple of her eye is the one person she looks for.
-
The dog became the apple of my eye the day we brought him home from the shelter.
-
He worked two jobs so the apple of his eye could go to college without debt.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a noun phrase with a possessive: “the apple of my/his/her eye.” Can be “the apple of X’s eye.” Rarely pluralized; article “the” is typically fixed.
Synonyms
- beloved
- cherished one
- dear
- favorite
- pride and joy
Antonyms
- someone I can’t stand
- my worst enemy