sight (redirected from in sight)

at first glance/sight

if something or someone seems a particular way at first glance, they seem that way when you first look at them. The system is more complicated than it appears at first glance.

See also: first, glance

not be a pretty sight (humorous)

to not be pleasant to look at. First thing in the morning, he's not a pretty sight.

See also: pretty

be a sight for sore eyes (informal)

if someone or something is a sight for sore eyes, you feel happy to see them. A cup of coffee - that's a sight for sore eyes. You're a sight for sore eyes, all dressed up in your new outfit.

See also: eye, sore

have someone in your sights

to intend to attack or defeat someone. He's trying to build up his media empire and he has the owners of rival newspapers in his sights.

have something in your sights

to be trying to achieve something, especially when you are very likely to succeed. After months of training, Hilary now has the gold medal firmly in her sights.

have your sights set on something/doing something

set your sights on something/doing something - to decide to achieve something. I hear she has her sights set on becoming a journalist.

See also: set

lose sight of something

to forget about an important idea or a fact because you are thinking too much about other things. Some members of the peace force seem to have lost sight of the fact that they are here to help people.

See also: lose

lower your sights

to accept something less good than the thing you were hoping for. With so few jobs around she's had to lower her sights.

See also: lower

out of sight (American)

if the amount of something, especially money, is out of sight, it is very large. The cost of health care in this country is going out of sight. These executives in big corporations get salaries that are out of sight.

Out of sight, out of mind.

something that you say which means if you do not hear about or see someone or something for a period of time, you stop thinking about them. You'll soon forget about him after he leaves - out of sight, out of mind.

See also: mind

set your sights on something/doing something

to decide to achieve something. She's set her sights on winning.

See also: set

---

at first sight

when someone or something is seen for the first time. For my brother and sister-in-law, it was love at first sight. At first sight I thought the test was easy, but there were some tricky questions.

at first blush

at first glance

See also: first

catch sight of someone/something

to see someone or something only for a moment. I caught sight of someone with red hair and knew it was you.

See also: catch

in your sights

1. in a situation in which you will attack. He has already written about two of the largest insurance companies, and made no secret that he has other insurers in his sights.

2. in a situation in which you intend to get or achieve something. He settled for the bronze medal but still had the world record in his sights.

know someone/something by sight

to recognize someone or something. I've never spoken to him, but I know him by sight.

Usage notes: usually used to suggest that you know what someone looks like but not what type of character someone has

See also: know

lose sight of something

to stop considering something. Members of the peace-keeping force have lost sight of the fact that they are here to help people. Despite the very personal nature of her work, she never lost sight of the larger community her work would benefit.

Usage notes: usually said about an important fact or idea

See also: lose

love at first sight

an immediate, strong attraction for someone you just met. She took an immediate liking to him – it was love at first sight.

See also: first, love

lower your sights

to accept something that is not as good as what you originally wanted. With so few jobs around she's had to lower her sights.

Usage notes: the opposite meaning is expressed by raise your sights to try to get something better than you had originally expected

See also: lower

no end in sight (to something)

lacking the possibility of any change. There seems to be no end in sight to quicker and better computers.

See also: end

not a pretty sight

1. unpleasant to look at. A state trooper guarding the crash site said, “It's not a pretty sight out there.”

2. very bad or unpleasant. The first reviews of the new on-line magazine are in, and it's not a pretty sight.

See also: pretty

not stand the sight of someone/something

to strongly dislike someone or something. Most people can't stand the sight of blood. Right now, I can't stand the sight of you.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form not bear the sight of someone or something: Ever since he insulted me, I can't bear the sight of him.

See also: stand

on sight

as soon as someone or something is seen. The law now requires all pigeons in the area to be shot on sight. Even very young children can recognize certain words on sight.

out of sight

at a very high level. Medical costs are out of sight. Daytime temperatures in the desert will be out of sight by mid-June.

out of sight, out of mind

not able to be seen and so not thought about. Some people working at home start to feel they are out of sight, out of mind as far as their boss is concerned.

See also: mind

see the sights

to visit or look at places that are famous or popular. After we checked into the hotel we went out immediately to see the sights.

See also: see

set your sights (on doing something)

to decide what you want to get or achieve something. I think they set their sights too high – they'll never find someone for the job who has all those skills. Once she sets her sights on something, she won't stop until she gets it. I hear she has her sights set on becoming a journalist.

See also: set

a sight for sore eyes

something you are happy to see. The many taxis in the city are a sight for sore eyes when it's raining.

See also: eye, sore

sight unseen

without seeing or examining something first. He purchased the Longfellow manuscript sight unseen from a collector in Houston.