apple of my eye

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.
See also: apple, eye, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.”
See also: apple, of
The Dictionary of Clichés 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.”
See also: apple, eye, of
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • apple of
  • apple of eye
  • apple of one's eye
  • the apple of (one's) eye
  • the apple of somebody's eye
  • the apple of your eye
  • corn in Egypt
  • get thee behind me
  • millstone
  • nether
References in periodicals archive
"Apple Of My Eye" is co-written by Andrian Legaspi and Bela Padilla, and directed by James Robin Mayo.
Marco Gumabao reveals shape of his heart on Valentine's Day
'Apple of My Eye' is Padilla's second script following the 2017 dark romance drama film 'Last Night' starring Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga.
Bela Padilla writes, co-produces her first digital film
Winning trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam commented: "He's the apple of my eye and while the Derby may be the race for him in the end, there won't be any harm in having a crack at the 2,000 Guineas first."
Racing: Fortune in command
But after he masterfully rode the horsey to victory by about 400 furlongs, O'Regan immediately became the apple of my eye.
PICK OF THE DAY; Cheltenham Festival Channel 4, 12.30pm
"Now I can focus on spending precious time with my grandson Finn, who is nine months and the apple of my eye."
U-turn in cancer drug decision
Other highlights include another Irish rap, Party On, the emigration epic St Patrick's Day and Apple Of My Eye, an affectionate paean to New York.
The Razz: Live Reviews: Damien Dempsey King Tut's, Glasgow, April 3
(Peter Green), who beats Indian Scholar (David Lewis/Roy Mangan) in the novice chase, and follows up aboard Border River (Clifford Watts), who takes the handicap hurdle from Apple Of My Eye (Fred Rimell/Sam Morshead).
All Our Yesterdays
"He's been the apple of my eye since he was a bumper horse and, if we can keep him in one piece, we should have a treat season with him."
COSS HE'S WORTH IT
lThere is a Warwick double for Fred Rimell as Apple Of My Eye (Sam Morshead) wins the conditions hurdle and Lewis lands the four-year-old handicap.
All our Yesterdays
He said: "She is the apple of my eye, but I've not seen her for a bit.
Brothers are perfectly balanced
Kenneth said after her death: "She was the apple of my eye. She was just snapped away.
Tears for big sis he never knew; EXCLUSIVE
Kenneth Ross 32, whose five-year-old daughter Joanna was gunned down, said: "She was the apple of my eye. She was just snapped away.
I've lost apple of my eye
"She has always been the apple of my eye and she's one to look forward to - she'll take a bit of beating." But The Queen's Classic dream looks over - Enticement was pushed out to 20-1 for the Oaks after the Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly lost her unbeaten record in third.
Bell's ring of confidence
The father of one massacre victim spoke yesterday of his grief and described his little girl as the "apple of my eye".
Charlotte's last picture
Apple Of My Eye by Patrick Redmond (Simon & Schuster, pounds 12.99).
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