Apple of My Eye
“The apple of someone’s eye” refers to a deeply loved or cherished person. Cambridge labels the idiom old-fashioned, so the guide explains the meaning without presenting it as neutral modern wording in every context.
If someone is “the apple of your eye,” they are a person you love very much and are especially proud of.
Key details
Further guidance
Contextual Examples
His granddaughter is the apple of his eye.
In the memoir, she calls her youngest son the apple of her eye.
Current Meaning
a person someone loves very much and is especially proud of
History Boundary
This guide establishes present-day form and meaning and does not assert an exact inventor, coinage, or first printed use.
Meaning Boundary
It is normally about a cherished person, not simply a favorite object or the thing currently receiving the most attention.
Practical Use
Use the idiom as an affectionate way to describe a person who is especially loved or cherished. Because Cambridge labels it old-fashioned, it fits best when a warm, traditional, or deliberately old-fashioned tone is acceptable.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- The apple of someone’s eye — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Current idiom meaning and old-fashioned usage label