Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
with eyes open

with eyes open

1 5.4
Acting while fully aware of what could go wrong
  • idiom
translation icon : con los ojos abiertos
  • They decided to travel to the dangerous region with eyes open, knowing the risks associated with their journey.

Examples

  • Entering the negotiation with eyes open, he understood the implications and potential outcomes.

  • You can sit here with eyes closed or with eyes open and be totally blissed out.

  • In the meantime, live with eyes open, and rest assured that even the small steps make a difference.

    Blog text (30)

  • She chose to invest her money in the startup with eyes open, fully aware of the risks involved.

Synonyms

eyes wide open
vswith eyes open
  • Informal
3 4.3

To act while fully aware of possible risks

is the same meaning but more idiomatic and emphatic
open-eyed
vswith eyes open
1 5.2

Aware of possible danger or change

focuses on broad, informed awareness of risks and realities

Antonyms

unaware
175 2.9

Not knowing that something is happening or true

naively
13 4.4

In a way that shows little experience and too much trust

How Aware

vigilantly
3 6.2
with eyes open
1 5.4
attentively
9 3.0
watchfully
1 3.2
carelessly
20 1.0
ignorantly
4 5.1

Surface Forms

with eyes open positive

Morphology

with + eyes + open

The phrase 'with eyes open' is directly inferred from the literal meanings of 'with' + 'eyes' + 'open' — an open-eyed state signals alertness and awareness, so a learner who knows the words would understand it means acting while fully aware of risks. This sensory-to-mental metaphor (eyes=open → being attentive) is common across languages, making the expression compositionally transparent to B1 learners.

Etymology

With eyes open comes from the clear picture of someone looking closely, with their eyes wide open so they can see everything. That's why doing something with eyes open means doing it 'fully aware of the risks' and not surprised later.