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The term was originally used in The Bible and it was used to signify someone of great worth 'whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye', someone who was very precious. The 'apple of your eye' is the iris or center of the eye. If someone were to touch the apple of your eye it would be very painful and so it is protected by the eyelid. The biblical imagery is that we are the apple of his eye and God is the eyelid who protects us. Shakespeare also used the term with this meaning in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' to again show something as most precious -

Flower of this purple dye,

Hit with Cupid's archery,

Sink in apple of his eye

Modern usage of this idiom usually refers to something that is especially beloved.

The saying originally meant the central aperture of the eye, presumably because apples were the most common sphere-shaped object around. The apple and apple tree were also a sacred symbols for the early British peoples. This is reflected in such stories as the Island of Avalon (which literally means Apple Island). Now, this phrase is usually figurative, meaning something, or more usually someone, cherished above others. As sight is so precious, someone who is called this as an endearment is similarly precious.

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Q: How did the expression 'apple of my eye' come about?
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Where did the saying apple of your eye was invented?

where is the apple of my eye come from


If someone is very close and special to you that person is the of your eye?

I guess you're looking for the word 'apple' from the expression, 'You're the apple of my eye'.


What are the example sentence of idiomatic expression apple of your eye?

The apple of your eye means a particular preference, or a loved one; the object of somebody's affections. So it means something very dear to you.The idiom "apple of your eye" comes from the Old Testament of the Bible. It is in 4 verses, Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8, Proverbs 7:2, and Zechariah 2:8."We all know that she is the apple of your eye."This would mean that the female in this expression is the person you desire. The pupil is also known as the apple of the eye -- it is the source of focus; thus when someone is the apple of the eye, they are the focus, the center.


What is an example sentence for idiomatic expression using apple?

After fifty years of marriage, she is still the apple of his eye.


What is the meaning of the apple of your eyes?

The apple of your eye means a particular preference, or a loved one; the object of somebody's affections. So it means something very dear to you.The idiom "apple of your eye" comes from the Old Testament of The Bible. It is in 4 verses, Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8, Proverbs 7:2, and Zechariah 2:8."We all know that she is the apple of your eye."This would mean that the female in this expression is the person you desire. The pupil is also known as the apple of the eye -- it is the source of focus; thus when someone is the apple of the eye, they are the focus, the center.


Apple of ones eye in sentence?

Apple of one's eye


What is the duration of You Are the Apple of My Eye?

The duration of You Are the Apple of My Eye is 1.83 hours.


When was You Are the Apple of My Eye created?

You Are the Apple of My Eye was created on 2011-06-25.


Can you give a sentence with apple of my eye?

That sweet, little girl is the apple of her grandfather's eye. She criticizes her son all the time, but her daughter is the apple of her eye.


Where does the expression here's mud in your eye come from?

In the Bible story where Jesus heals a blind man by putting mud in his eye and his sight is miraculously restored (Mark 8)


What would be classified as an idiom?

An idiom is an expression that has meaning that differs from what one would expect from the actual words. An example would be "the apple of my eye" or "raining cats and dogs."


Who is the apple of the eye?

The apple of your eye is something or someone that you will cherish above all others