to put the miller's eye out

9.9

To say something sharp to hurt or criticize someone

idiom

: herir con palabras

During the debate, he put the miller's eye out with his witty retort.

Examples

She didn't mean to put the miller's eye out, but her words stung nonetheless.
It's best not to put the miller's eye out when giving feedback to colleagues.
Don't put the miller's eye out with your harsh words!
She always puts the miller's eye out during arguments.
He put the miller's eye out with a biting comment that left everyone stunned.
In her review, she accidentally put the miller's eye out instead of offering constructive criticism.
His intention was to help, but he put the miller's eye out with his pointed remarks.

Synonyms

piece of someone's mind

vsto put the miller's eye out

Informal

23 7.5

Tell someone angrily that you are unhappy with them

is a sharper, often single cutting insult rather than blunt anger

to rake over the coals

vsto put the miller's eye out

Informal

6 7.9

Scold someone very strongly for a mistake

is a pointed cutting remark, not an extended reprimand

to snipe

vsto put the miller's eye out

5 7.7

To criticize someone in a sly, indirect way

is an open cutting remark rather than a covert criticism

to take potshots at

vsto put the miller's eye out

Offensive

5 8.1

To make quick, unfair critical remarks about someone or their ideas

is a sharper, more intentional cutting comment rather than casual shots

to scorch

vsto put the miller's eye out

3 7.3

To severely criticize someone or something

is a sharp cutting remark but less broad condemnation

to hit out at

vsto put the miller's eye out

1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is often a single sharp cutting comment rather than public criticism

to tear (someone) a new one

vsto put the miller's eye out

Offensive

1 9.9

To scold someone angrily

is typically a single sharp insult rather than a long rebuke

to put the boot in

vsto put the miller's eye out

1 9.1

To attack or criticize someone who is already in trouble

is a sharp cutting comment not necessarily opportunistic or repeated

to throw brickbats

vsto put the miller's eye out

Literature

1 8.9

Attack someone with strong words in public

is usually a pointed cutting remark rather than public campaign

to vituperate

vsto put the miller's eye out

Offensive

1 9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is a single cutting remark aimed to wound rather than sustain abuse

to take a sideswipe at

vsto put the miller's eye out

Offensive

1 8.1

To make a short indirect critical remark about someone

is a direct cutting insult rather than a brief indirect jab

to speak with venom

vsto put the miller's eye out

1 7.8

Say angry, cruel things about someone

is a sharp cutting line aimed to wound rather than bitterness overall

to cast in someone's teeth

vsto put the miller's eye out

Informal

1 9.9

To hurt someone by reminding them of an embarrassing thing they did

is a fresh cutting insult aimed to wound without reminder tactics

to clapperclaw

vsto put the miller's eye out

Offensive

9.9

To attack someone with angry words

is a brief cutting comment rather than ongoing abuse

to put the bad mouth on

vsto put the miller's eye out

Informal

9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

is a direct cutting remark meant to wound rather than general bad talk

How Harsh

to vilify

39 7.9

to insult

Offensive

420 2.1

to put the miller's eye out

9.9

rebuke

22 6.8

to criticize

653 3.3

Surface Forms

put the miller's eye out infinitive

put the miller's eye out past

put the miller's eye out past participle

putting the miller's eye out present participle

puts the miller's eye out third person singular

Morphology

put + the + miller's + eyes + out

The meaning 'to make a sharp or cutting remark' is not derivable from composing 'put' + 'the miller's eye' + 'out'—the literal image evokes physical injury to a miller's eye rather than verbal criticism. This appears to be an idiomatic or historical phrase with a culture-specific reference, so a B1 learner who knows the individual words would not reliably infer the intended idiomatic sense.

Etymology

The idiom put the miller's eye out may come from the image of someone taking a miller's eye out, a cruel and shocking act. So it now means 'to hurt or criticise someone with a very sharp remark'.