the apple of (one's) 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 (someone's eye)

Fig. someone's favorite person or thing; a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Tom is the apple of Mary's eye. She thinks he's the greatest. John's new car is the apple of his eye.
See also: apple, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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.

the apple of your eye

If someone is the apple of your eye, you love them very much and are very proud of them. I was the apple of my father's eye. Penny's only son was the apple of her eye. Note: In the past, the pupil in the eye was sometimes called the apple.
See also: apple, eye, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

the apple of your eye

a person or thing of whom you are extremely fond and proud.
In Old English, the phrase referred to the pupil of the eye, considered to be a globular solid body; it came to be used as a symbol of something cherished and watched over.
See also: apple, eye, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the ˌapple of somebody’s ˈeye

a person, usually a child, who somebody loves very much; a favourite child: The second child, John, was the apple of his mother’s eye.In the past, the pupil (= the small round black area at the centre of the eye) was called the ‘apple’ of the eye, the part that had to be protected most carefully.
See also: apple, eye, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

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 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 my eye
  • 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