sight to behold
7
6.2
- idiom
:
espectáculo
- The vibrant colors of the sunset over the ocean are a sight to behold.
It's just it's a sight to behold and not in a good way.
- It's just it's a sight to behold and not in a good way.
- I mean, that thing was a sight to behold.
Examples
-
The Washington Navy Yard - Day and the drum cadence we've been hearing has turned into Semper Fidelis, and it's coming from the U.S. Marine Corps Band, a sight to behold in their red and gold uniforms and polished silver and brass.
Fiction book (1992) -
The San Francisco Bay herring fishery is truly a multi-sensory sight to behold.
Academic text (2003) -
Truly a sight to behold.
-
This is a sight to behold!
-
I bet it was a lovely sight to behold.
-
It's a wonderful sight to behold.
-
Whatever it was, must have been a sight to behold.
Blog text (7) -
The spectacular Eagle art piece made out of nails was a sight to behold.
Blog text (8) -
He's a sight to behold for tourists and children.
-
The sea of spectators overwhelming the circuit would be a truly awe-inspiring sight to behold.
Blog text (23)
Synonyms
331
1.0
A place or thing that is very surprising and beautiful
185
2.3
A thing that is an especially good example of its kind
130
1.0
A place people visit because it is interesting or famous
122
4.1
Something that causes strong surprise or wonder
68
4.2
An impressive event like a parade or fireworks that people come to see
61
5.3
A beautiful view seen from a high place or through a window
58
7.2
A person or thing that becomes very famous and attracts attention
31
1.6
The outward appearance of something as seen by others
4
6.0
A full view of something attractive or impressive
4
4.6
A place people show to visitors for its beauty or interest
3
1.8
A very beautiful scene you see from a place like a mountain or sea
1
3.5
A very beautiful view that makes you feel amazed
1
4.1
A person or thing that is easy to notice and attracts attention
Antonyms
How Impressive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'especially impressive / worth seeing' follows directly from combining 'sight' (something seen) with the infinitival purpose 'to behold' (to observe/look at), so a learner who knows both words can infer the intended sense. The structure is compositional and parallels constructions in many languages (e.g. 'a view to behold' / 'una vista para contemplar'), making it transparently interpretable despite 'behold' being somewhat formal or literary.
Etymology
Sight to behold comes from the words sight (something you can see) and behold (an old word meaning 'to look at'). Imagine a view so beautiful you stop and stare—this picture explains why it means 'something very impressive or worth seeing'.