have/keep half an eye on
idiom
: to be only partly paying attention to : to look at occasionally
He had/kept half an eye on the TV while he read the paper.
Examples of have/keep half an eye on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whoever challenges for the Democrat nomination will have half an eye on the national battle, where the economy, security and national pride are likely to outweigh liberal issues.
—
William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Have/keep half an eye on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%2Fkeep%20half%20an%20eye%20on. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share