the apple of one’s eye

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the apple of (one’s) eye

A cherished or favored person. This phrase is thought to be Biblical in origin.

My nephew is just the apple of my eye.

He has five kids, but his only daughter is clearly the apple of his eye.

eye, of

See also: apple

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

apple of one’s eye

Special favorite, beloved person or thing, as in The youngest was the apple of his father’s eye. This term, which rests on the ancients’ idea that the eye’s pupil is apple-shaped and that eyes are particularly precious, appears in the Bible (Deuteronomy 32:10). [Early 1600s]

eye, of

See also: apple

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

apple of (one’s) eye

One that is treasured:

Her grandson is the apple of her eye.

eye, of

See also: apple

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

apple of one’s eye, the

A cherished person or thing. The term comes from the ancient concept that the eye’s pupil was a solid, apple-shaped body, and, being essential to sight, was precious. It appears in the Bible (Deuteronomy 32:10): “He [the Lord] kept him [Israel] as the apple of his eye.”

of

See also: apple

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer

apple of my eye

A most favorite or cherished person. In Psalm 17:8, the Psalmist asks God to “keep me as the apple of your eye.”

eye, of

See also: apple

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price