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
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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.
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William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
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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 3 Nov. 2025.
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