View synonyms for

black eye

noun

discoloration of the skin around the eye, resulting from a blow, bruise, etc.
a mark of shame, dishonor, etc..
These slums are a black eye to our town.
damaged reputation.
Your behavior will give the family a black eye.

black eye

noun

bruising round the eye

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Word History and Origins

Origin of black eye¹

First recorded in 1595–1605

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Idioms and Phrases

A mark of shame, a humiliating setback, as in That there are enough homeless folks to need another shelter is a black eye for the administration. This metaphor alludes to having discolored flesh around the eye resulting from a blow. The term is also used literally, as in The mugger not only took Bill's wallet but gave him a black eye. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On the same March 3 morning, the county asked for help identifying a wisp-thin elderly man with a grizzled beard and swollen black eye who’d been found in Monterey Park’s Edison Trails Park.

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Trump praises Musk as the latter appears with a black eye in a press conference on his last day at the White House.

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After all, if your five-year-old can give you a black eye, you’re not the kind of alpha male Trump wants on his staff.

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He saw the black eye and the teeth of the shark as he tried to get back onto his board.

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It’s may also become a black eye for the big law firm Latham & Watkins, which represents Anthropic and submitted the errant declaration.

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Blackett black-eyed pea

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