0
MrPernickety Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Usage of "eye in the sky"

Hi,

I stumbled upon this expression:

"You can't fool the eye in the sky"

The implied meaning was "you can't fool everybody". Could you tell me if you use this expression in this meaning? Is it in common use among native speakers ?

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

I've never heard it personally, except to refer to those helicopters that observe traffic at rush hour and transmit the information to radio stations for the benefit of commuters. I'd assume without more context that it refers to the Almighty, Whose eye, we are told, is on the sparrow.

— Delmobile

  • I've never heard it personally, except to refer to those helicopters that observe traffic at rush hour and transmit the information to radio stations for the benefit of commuters.
  • I'd assume without more context that it refers to the Almighty, Whose eye, we are told, is on the sparrow.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0
I've never heard it personally, except to refer to those helicopters that observe traffic at rush hour and transmit the information to radio stations for the benefit of commuters.

I'd assume without more context that it refers to the Almighty, Whose eye, we are told, is on the sparrow.
0
0
I agree with Del.

I've never thought of it as referring to the almighty - but such a usage would certainly not be unreasonable.
0
0
Well, I don't know now. From a brief google, the phrase seems to be used to refer to surveillance cameras, which are becoming ubiquitous in American cities. And it turns out that "Eye in the Sky" was a hit for the Allan Parsons Project in 1982 - I should remember this! - and that song was inspired by Big Brother in 1984...

Oh wait! Wikipedia reveals all! It's apparently a slang term for
0
0
Thank you, Del, for going to this much trouble to dredge up the origin of "Eye in the Sky". Now it's as clear as day.

And you have won your bet - I really heard the phrase in question on a SCI episode, in a casino setting (honest to *** I did
0
0
Careful. He's watching.
0
0
AvangiCareful. He's watching.

Emotion: smile
0
0
India to get another 'eye in the sky' by month-end
0
0

In that context the usage of Pie in the Sky is a reference to ***, the Almighty. It is also used to describe surveillance cameras, Police and Traffic helicopters. It's also used for the latest device, drones.

0

Related Questions