apple of someone's eye

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English appel of the eie (“pupil of the eye; cornea; (figurative) something highly valued”), from Old English æppel on the ēagan, used in biblical texts (Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8; Proverbs 7:2, Lamentations 2:18, and Zechariah 2:8; compare the quotations) to designate the pupil of the eye as something precious to be protected. The use of "apple" in English is apparently due to the pupil or cornea being thought of as a solid, globular object. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌæpl̩‿əv sʌmwʌnz ˈaɪ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌæp(ə)l‿əv sʌmwʌnz ˈaɪ/ Rhymes: -aɪ Hyphenation: ap‧ple of some‧one’s eye === Noun === apple of someone's eye (plural apples of someone's eye) (idiomatic) The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one. ==== Related terms ==== apple of the eye eye-apple ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === apple of my eye on Wikipedia.Wikipedia