verbal phr. (common).—To ogle; to leer or ‘make eyes’ at; formerly to look modestly and with diffidence, but always with longing or affection. [Probably in allusion to the quiet, gentle gaze of sheep.] The phrase has been varied by to CAST LAMB’S EYES. Fr. ginginer; lancer son prospectus, and un oeil en tirelire = an eye full of amorous expression.
1590. GREENE, Francesco’s Fortunes, in wks. VIII., 191. That CASTING A SHEEPES EYE at hir, away he goes; and euer since he lies by himselfe & pines away.
1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, V., iii.
| Who chances to come by but fair Hero in a sculler; | |
| And seeing Leander’s naked leg and goodly calf, | |
| CAST at him from the boat A SHEEP’S EYE an’ a half. |
1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, ch. xvi. There was a young lady in the room, and she THREW … many SHEEP’S EYES at a certain person whom I shall not name.
1864. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingstone, ch. vii. He would stand for some time CASTING LAMB’S-EYES at the object of his affections—to the amorous audacity of the full-grown sheep he never soared.
1881. HAWLEY SMART, The Great Tontine, ch. xi. It isn’t to be expected a well-bred lass like this is going to knock under the minute a young fellow MAKES SHEEP-EYES at her.
