sun in the eyes
Preserved but no longer current.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “sun in the eyes” mean?
Too much drink. A person who is tipsy is said to have the SUN IN HIS EYES. He is also said to have been "standing too long in the SUN."
Is “sun in the eyes” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.