eyes in the back of one's head, to have

have eyes in the back of one's head

Fig. to seem to be able to sense what is going on behind or outside of one's field of vision. My teacher seems to have eyes in the back of her head. My teacher doesn't need to have eyes in the back of his head. He watches us very carefully.

See also: back, eye, have, head, of

have eyes in the back of your head

observe everything that is happening even when this is apparently impossible.

1991 Barbara Anderson Girls High They were all in Miss Royston's class who said that she had eyes in the back of her head and they half believed it, because how else did she know.

See also: back, eye, have, head, of

have eyes in the back of your ˈhead

(informal) seem to be able to see everything and know what is going on: You have to have eyes in the back of your head to keep control of six lively children.

See also: back, eye, have, head, of

eyes in the back of one's head, to have

To be exceptionally alert. This expression dates from Roman times, appearing in Plautus’s play Aulularia (ca. 210 b.c.) and cited by Erasmus in his collection of adages. Put slightly differently, it appeared in John Still’s play Gammer Gurton’s Needle (ca. 1565): “Take heed of Sim Glovers wife, she hath an eie behind her!” (2.2).

See also: back, eye, have, of