{"id":3560,"date":"2022-05-23T20:23:48","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T20:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3560"},"modified":"2022-05-23T20:23:48","modified_gmt":"2022-05-23T20:23:48","slug":"eyes-peeled-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/eyes-peeled-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Your Eyes Peeled \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone to stay alert and aware? If so, you could use \u201ckeep your eyes peeled<\/em>.\u201d This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The meaning of the expression \u201ceyes peeled<\/em>\u201d refers to telling someone to maintain a wakeful or watchful state of their surroundings. The person needs to keep their awareness up and pay careful attention to what is happening around them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The saying often appears as \u201ckeep your eyes peeled.\u201d<\/em> It has several applications, from military operations to home protection or just shopping online. You can use it to tell people to maintain a state of heightened awareness of their surroundings. Or you can use it to tell people to be aware of virtual experiences, like navigating the internet.<\/p>\n

Keeping your eyes peeled means that you won\u2019t let your guard down, and you\u2019ll catch every detail of what\u2019s happening around you. It is a way of assuming responsibility and accountability in front of others to gain their trust.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\"Listen, guys, I need you to keep your eyes peeled for this suspect. He's out on bail, and someone saw him around the murder scene last night.\"<\/p>\n

\"Km, when you're going to the store this afternoon, would you keep your eyes peeled for the new copy of Vogue? I heard that Beyonce's going to be on the cover.\"<\/p>\n

\"You need to keep your eyes peeled for Will Smith at the Oscars. You never know when he'll get on stage and slap somebody.\"<\/p>\n

\"Keep your eyes peeled for the enemy. We're on their turf now, and you never know what direction they could come from.<\/p>\n

\"Sarge told us to keep our eyes peeled, but I'm so tired I want to pass out. I need a coffee or something.\"<\/p>\n

\"Keep your eyes peeled for someone on Craigslist offering 30 Seconds from Mars tickets.\"<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone needs to be on the alert. We have no idea what\u2019s going on or what\u2019s coming next. I need you all to keep your eyes peeled and reach out to me on your walkie if you see anything strange.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep your eyes peeled everyone. Deer love coming out at night and we\u2019re sure to see some of them on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201ceyes peeled\u201d originates from the early 19th century. The oldest rendition of the saying comes from \u201cEncyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins,\u201d written by Robert Frederickson in 1832, where it appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Keep your eyes skinned now,\u2019 said the old trapper.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second iteration of the expression comes from the Kenosha Telegraph newspaper, published in 1852. This is the correct version and the one we use today.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep your eyes peeled for all their antics.\u201d<\/p>\n