the eye of the hurricane

the eye of the hurricane

1. Literally, a place of calm in the center of a hurricane. (The "eye" is the center of a storm, which rotates around a central point.) I think we're in the eye of the hurricane and that these winds are going to get worse.

2. By extension, a calm period before something worsens. Sadly, that ceasefire was just the eye of the hurricane—enemy troops bombed one of our ports days later.

See also: eye, hurricane, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

eye of the hurricane

 and eye of the storm 

1. Lit. the area of calm in the center of a tornado, hurricane, or cyclone. It is calm and peaceful in the eye of the storm.

2. Fig. a temporary peaceful time amidst more trouble and strife yet to come. Don't relax. This is the eye of the storm. The lunch hour rush is over, but the dinner rush will start soon.

See also: eye, hurricane, of

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.