Phrase guide

sight for sore eyes

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A pleasing sight; something that is beautiful to look at, particularly after a long period of deprivation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • After seventeen days of rain and floods, the 4 am sunrise was a sight for sore eyes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: eyesore

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: lust voor het oog — a pleasing sight
  • Finnish: ilo silmälle — a pleasing sight
  • French: plaisir pour les yeux — a pleasing sight
  • French: régal pour les yeux — a pleasing sight
  • Hungarian: öröm ránézni — a pleasing sight
  • Hungarian: szívderítő látvány — a pleasing sight
  • Italian: un piacere per gli occhi — a pleasing sight
  • Polish: mile widziany — a pleasing sight
  • Portuguese: bons olhos te vejam — a pleasing sight
  • Spanish: placer para los ojos — a pleasing sight
  • Swedish: en syn för trötta ögon — a pleasing sight