en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 12/10/2024, 14:37
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

The phrase means that the perception of beauty is subjective and varies from person to person.

Tone

Subjective

Origin

The phrase is often credited to the 3rd century Greek text "The Eye of the Beholder" by Plato, though it's more commonly associated with its 19th-century English usage, such as in Margaret Wolfe Hungerford's book "Molly Bawn" published in 1878.

Examples of usage

  • When discussing the abstract painting, Lisa reminded her friends that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
  • He might not be conventionally attractive, but remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
  • The garden's design wasn't to everyone's taste, but the artist believed that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Recommended posts in Phrases

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt

This phrase advises that it is often wiser to say ... Learn more →

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

The phrase means that one should not delay or procrastinate ... Learn more →

Judge not, that ye be not judged

Judge not, that ye be not judged

"Judge not, that ye be not judged" is a phrase ... Learn more →

Up a creek without a paddle

Up a creek without a paddle

The phrase "up a creek without a paddle" means to ... Learn more →