one in the eye
- idiom
- UK
:
un golpe bajo
- Losing the final match was a real one in the eye for the team, who had expected to win.
Examples
-
The unexpected election results were a one in the eye for the incumbent politician.
-
"There's one in the eye for the old Lokhar.
Fiction book (1993) -
Getting a lower grade than he anticipated was a disappointing one in the eye for her.
Synonyms
2
7.5
A roll of two ones with two dice that people see as very unlucky
Antonyms
How Severe
∞
1.0
- UK
184
4.4
148
3.6
223
1.7
21
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal combination 'one in the eye' would suggest a physical object in someone's eye and does not directly convey the idea of a defeat or setback. There is a plausible metaphorical link (being struck in the eye as a blow or humiliation) that could hint at a negative outcome, but the specific idiomatic sense is not fully predictable without prior exposure or cultural knowledge.
Etymology
The idiom one in the eye may come from the image of a sudden hit to the eye, a sharp and embarrassing surprise, so it now means 'a defeat or disappointment'.