apple of one's eye, the

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]
See also: apple, eye, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

apple of (one's) eye

One that is treasured: Her grandson is the apple of her eye.
See also: apple, eye, of
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

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:
  • twinkle in (one's) father's eye
  • like/as two peas in a pod
  • saphead
  • place aside
  • empty nest syndrome
  • on the threshold of (something)
  • in the shitter
  • shitter
  • take account of
  • take account of (someone or something)