magpie's eye
1
9.7
- noun
- Informal
- His magpie's eye quickly spotted the rare coin among the old trinkets.
Examples
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She has a magpie's eye for beautiful jewelry.
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His magpie's eye often leads him to unique antiques.
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Anyone with a magpie's eye will love browsing the antique market.
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She has a magpie's eye for beautiful jewelry.
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Anyone with a magpie's eye will love browsing the antique market.
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His magpie's eye quickly spotted the rare coin among the old trinkets.
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She has a magpie's eye for beautiful jewelry.
Synonyms
102
3.4
A very strong interest that makes you pay close attention
Antonyms
How Attracted
Surface Forms
Morphology
magpie's + eye
The phrase combines 'magpie' (a bird stereotypically associated with noticing/collecting shiny objects) with 'eye' (a knack for noticing), so a learner who knows these senses can infer a tendency to spot or be attracted to pretty/shiny things. However, the link relies on cultural knowledge about magpie behaviour that B1 learners may not have, making the relation only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Magpie's eye comes from the bird magpie and the idea of an eye that loves shiny things. Magpies often collect bright objects, so a person with a magpie's eye quickly notices and wants pretty, shiny items. So, it means 'a strong attraction for noticing and collecting shiny or attractive things'.