a look thought capable of inflicting injury or bad luck on the person at whom it is directed.
2.
the power, superstitiously attributed to certain persons, of inflicting injury or bad luck by such a look.
Origin
before 1000;Middle English,Old English
Related forms
evil-eyed, adjective
Examples from the web for evil eye
Err on the side of caution and take home a bright blue bauble to ward off the evil eye.
The turquoise as a charm against the evil eye and from looks foreboding misfortunes.
British Dictionary definitions for evil eye
evil eye
noun the evil eye
1.
a look or glance superstitiously supposed to have the power of inflicting harm or injury
2.
the power to inflict harm, etc, by such a look
Derived Forms
evil-eyed, adjective
evil eye in the Bible
(Prov. 23:6), figuratively, the envious or covetous. (Comp. Deut. 15:9; Matt. 20:15.)
Idioms and Phrases with evil eye
evil eye
The power to cause injury or misfortune, as in The tomatoes died shortly after planting—I must have an evil eye. The source of this expression is the ancient superstitious belief that some individuals could inflict harm on others simply by looking at them. Today the term is generally used figuratively or ironically, as above, and also in the form give someone the evil eye, which means “glare malevolently at someone.” For example, Helen gave his cat the evil eye, hoping it would stay out of her garden. [ Late 1300s ]