magic eye

magic eye

A cathode-ray tube found on some radios (particularly in the mid-20th century) that displayed a visual cue to aid the tuning of the radio. Back in my day, we needed to use a magic eye to tune our radios!
See also: eye, magic
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • tune
  • screw back
  • cue in
  • cue up
  • in the tube
  • in tune
  • crack a tube
  • dance to another tune
  • carry a tune
  • tube
References in periodicals archive
As of August 1994, millions of "Magic Eye" fans are certainly interested in staring at Baccei's seemingly abstract color pictures until they see the hidden three-dimensional images coded in by computer.
'Magic Eye' creator has vision of future: Tom Baccei is trying to make sure that his popular 3-D feature becomes more than another passing fad
The winning combination of USTERA(r) JOSSI VISION SHIELD 2 with the USTERA(r) JOSSI MAGIC EYE and the USTERA(r) QUANTUM 3 yarn clearers have helped Texhong to develop its business in a quality-sensitive and challenging market sector, without risking either quality claims or customer discontent.
Uster Technologies: 'Dual control' for quality-critical yarns
I might as well have been looking at one of those magic eye pictures.
Emojis: The unacceptable face of text conversations
We now have the new box and because of the "upgrade" we've lost the "magic eye" connection to all the other TVs in the house, which now sit idle, silently mocking me for trusting in her gunboat diplomacy skills.
My little dish has left us in the dark!
When colour formed part of the paper, pre-printed reels were fed into the press and a 'magic eye' computer ensured that the colour pictures fell into their correct positions.
THE MAKING OF A NEWSPAPER; ++ We're On The Move ++ We're On The Move ++ We're On The Move ++
We call it his magic eye - he's knows he hasn't got two real eyes.
This photo saved my son's life
Chachamaidee produced a career best when comprehensively defeating Dever Dream last time, a race in which two other of today's opponents, Rimth and Magic Eye, were fourth and sixth.
Will Cecil filly confirm her place in Group 1?
AT FIRST glance a QR code could be mistaken as a strange magic eye picture.
OPINION: Will QR codes become the latest magic marketing tools?
Forms of such 'autostereoscopy' do already exist--the 'magic eye' pictures and we use random-dot stereograms in the consulting room.
3D visions of the future: interest in 3D technology is rising. AOP education adviser Karen Sparrow looks at the consequences
In the meantime, the Harry Potter Magic Eye Book: 3D Magical Creatures, Beasts and Beings ($16.99) from Andrews McMeel Publishing, brings a new dimension to wizards and Muggles alike--offering an enchanting collection of more than 30 mesmerizing Magic Eye 3D illusions.
The wonders of Harry Potter's magic eye
And when lovers Tamino and Pamina reach their nirvana, it is like a Dali artwork with a magic eye and three huge hands.
Mozart fans reach a magical nirvana; REVIEW THE MAGIC FLUTE Birmingham Hippodrome
It's a hypnotic image, sort of Magic Eye avant la lettre.
Robert Davis + Michael Langlois: Moniquemeloche
"The knee is not so good, so I'm having magic eye surgery by Thursday at the latest," said Elliott.
Elliott's agony adds to Glam's gloom
Fly-drive holidays to Orlando from November to March start at pounds 369, including car insurance, with Magic Eye (tel: 0161 929 5268).
Holiday Extra: All The Fun Of Florida
The finest white PP contamination is reliably and efficiently detected with the USTER(r) JOSSI MAGIC EYE in combination with the USTER(r) JOSSI VISION SHIELD.
Nonwovens: When quality is super-critical..