have eyes in the back of one's head
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To be able to perceive things and events that are outside of one's field of vision.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “English-language idioms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Common questions
What does “have eyes in the back of one's head” mean?
To be able to perceive things and events that are outside of one's field of vision.
Is “have eyes in the back of one's head” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.