the eye of the storm
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An opening between the storm clouds. Cp. BULL'S EYE. To cast sheep's eyes at one. See SHEEP.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the eye of the storm” mean?
An opening between the storm clouds. Cp. BULL'S EYE. To cast sheep's eyes at one. See SHEEP.
Is “the eye of the storm” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.