catch someone's eye

Related to catch someone's eye: keep an eye on

catch (one's) eye

1. To attract one's attention, often by making eye contact. The server still hasn't taken our order—we just can't catch her eye.
2. To attract one's interest, especially due to being visually appealing or attractive. That dress in the window caught my eye immediately—can I try it on? Your store needs a bold sign that will catch the eye of anyone walking down the street. I see that the new girl in school has caught your eye.
See also: catch, eye
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

catch someone's eye

Attract someone's attention, as in That window display really catches my eye. [Early 1800s]
See also: catch, eye
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

catch someone's eye

or

catch the eye of someone

COMMON If something or someone catches your eye, you notice them because they are very unusual, interesting or beautiful in appearance. A flower arrangement caught my eye as I walked into the shop. He turned the page. The picture caught his eye instantly. She caught the eye of 49-year-old Frank Sinatra on the set one day and promptly flew on his jet to Palm Springs for the weekend. Note: You can also say that something is eye-catching when it is very unusual and interesting in appearance. She was wearing a very eye-catching designer hat. There's an eye-catching headline on the front page of the Sunday Times.
See also: catch, eye
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

catch someone's eye

1 be noticed by someone. 2 attract someone's attention by making eye contact with them.
See also: catch, eye
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • catch (one's) eye
  • catch eye
  • catch somebody's eye
  • get (one's) eye
  • get eye Go to catch
  • have (one's) eye
  • have eye
  • get (one's) attention
  • catch the eye of (someone)
  • grab attention
References in periodicals archive
``It just makes me feel that if I saw them they'd say, `Mike we know it's you',''he laughs then adds,``'stop showin' off.' ``If you're running around on stage and playing up to the audience, you just need to catch someone's eye and it'll destroy the magic.
Centre Piece: Relatively nervous; Stage nerves,better after a bit of Dutch courage: star singer Michael Ball is very much like the rest of us,as Alun Prichard discovers
You catch someone's eye across a crowded bar -hopefully mine - and wham!
Beware of the bubble of love
"It's a chance for them to show what they can do and they might just catch someone's eye," he said.
Let's find the David Beckham of tomorrow
"As long as I keep scoring goals, there's a chance I'll catch someone's eye. But for the moment I'm just happy to try and repay Dave Baikie for giving me a chance to play regularly.
Football: CRAIG O'SMILEY; DIVISION 3 Dens loan star is loving life after his Fife switch
"This is different from going on blind dates or posting personal details on the Internet, hoping to catch someone's eye which feels wrong from the start, because we do the screening and you do the choosing.
James has a passion for business; JOBS & NEW DIRECTIONS
"This season all I wanted to do was play well in the under-18s and then hopefully catch someone's eye.
FOOTBALL: Lee's gone from polishing boots to filling them; BAIRNS YTS IN BIG TIME
Stop for a moment and catch someone's eye and they are very likely to hit on you.
DOING A EUAN; MIRROR FINDS HUNDREDS COPYING PM'S SON: Under-age kids party on in square where he passed out