Idiom B2 Informal / Neutral

The apple of my eye

Someone or something very precious and deeply cherished

Meaning

The apple of my eye — Someone or something that is very precious, beloved, or cherished above all others; a person or thing you care about more than anything else.

Origin & History

This idiom has one of the oldest recorded histories in English. It appears in the Bible in Deuteronomy 32:10, where God guards his people "as the apple of his eye." In Old English, the pupil of the eye was called the "apple" because people believed it was a small, solid, spherical object — and since sight was considered one of the most valuable senses, anything described as "the apple of the eye" was supremely precious.

The phrase was later used by William Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1600) and by Sir Walter Scott in Old Mortality (1816), cementing its place in the literary canon. Today it remains one of the most widely recognised idioms in English.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext
My granddaughter is the apple of my eye — I would do anything for her.Grandparent expressing affection
That vintage guitar has been the apple of his eye since he was sixteen.Cherished possession
She was clearly the apple of her father's eye, and he supported every decision she made.Parent-child relationship
The new puppy quickly became the apple of everyone's eye in the household.Family pet
As the youngest child, Tom was the apple of his mother's eye.Family dynamic
The start-up was the apple of the investor's eye before it ran into financial trouble.Business context

How to Use It

Informal to neutral in register. Use it to describe a person or thing you hold most dear. The possessive pronoun can change depending on who is speaking — "the apple of his eye", "the apple of her eye", "the apple of their eye" — but the article "the" and the noun "apple" must always remain fixed.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

She is an apple of my eye.

She is the apple of my eye. — The definite article 'the' is fixed; never use 'an' or omit it.

He is the apple of my eyes.

He is the apple of my eye. — 'Eye' is always singular in this idiom.

That car is the apple of my sight.

That car is the apple of my eye. — Do not substitute 'eye' with 'sight' or any other word; the idiom is fixed.

Similar Idioms

Near and dear to my heart My pride and joy Close to my heart Hold dear All Idioms →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does "The apple of my eye" mean?
"The apple of my eye" means someone or something that is very precious, beloved, or cherished. It describes a person or thing you care about more than anything else.
Where does the idiom "The apple of my eye" come from?
The phrase has biblical origins, appearing in Deuteronomy 32:10. In Old English, the pupil of the eye was called the "apple" because it was thought to be a solid sphere and was considered extremely precious. Anything as valuable as one's eyesight was described this way. Shakespeare also used the phrase in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Can you give an example of "The apple of my eye" in a sentence?
Here is an example: "My granddaughter is the apple of my eye — I would do anything for her." — used to express deep affection for a grandchild.
Is "The apple of my eye" formal or informal?
Informal to neutral. It is commonly used in spoken English and informal writing, but its biblical and literary roots mean it can also appear in slightly more formal or literary contexts. It is generally too personal for strictly professional or academic documents.
What CEFR level is "The apple of my eye"?
This idiom is typically taught at B2 level. It is an upper-intermediate expression that appears frequently in spoken English, literature, songs, and media across all major English-speaking countries.
What are common mistakes with "The apple of my eye"?
The most common mistake is using the wrong article — saying "an apple of my eye" instead of "the apple of my eye". Another error is making "eye" plural: the correct form is always "eye", not "eyes". The idiom is fixed and no words should be changed or substituted.
What idioms are similar to "The apple of my eye"?
Similar idioms include: Near and dear to my heart, My pride and joy, Close to my heart, and Hold dear. These share the meaning of deep affection or high value but may differ slightly in tone or usage context.
How do I practise idioms like "The apple of my eye"?
LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles exercises are great for practising English idioms. Try to write your own example sentences using the idiom in different contexts, and listen for it in films, songs, podcasts, and conversations.
Can "The apple of my eye" be used in writing?
Yes. Unlike many colloquial idioms, this one appears in both informal and slightly formal writing due to its literary and biblical heritage. It works well in personal essays, speeches, greetings cards, and creative writing, but should be avoided in strictly academic or formal professional documents.
Does "The apple of my eye" have the same meaning in British and American English?
Yes, "The apple of my eye" is understood in both British and American English with the same meaning: someone or something very precious and cherished. It is one of the oldest and most widely recognised idioms in all major varieties of English.