a gleam in someone's eye

gleam in (one's) eye

1. A facial expression that denotes happiness, amusement, or knowledge of a secret. Just when Rita thought all hope was lost, Jared got a gleam in his eye that told her he had a plan to get them both out of that sticky situation.
2. A hope or plan that is not yet in existence. You were not even a gleam in your mother's eye when that photo was taken.
See also: eye, gleam
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a gleam (or twinkle) in someone's eye

1 a barely formed idea. 2 a child who has not yet been conceived. humorous
See also: eye, gleam
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • gleam
  • gleam in (one's) eye
  • a twinkle in someone's eye
  • twinkle in (one's) eye
  • make a face
  • make a face (at someone)
  • pull/make faces/a face
  • the stink eye
  • have a face like thunder
  • bedroom eyes
References in periodicals archive
"Then there's the Internet: an outlet for advertising that was nothing more than a gleam in someone's eye less than a decade ago, an outlet that will thrive on audiovisual content," Shea said.
DGA prexy asks industry to avoid double strikes