the.com/apple of the eye
The pupil, so named because ancient eyes assumed it was a solid little fruit.
means Someone or something cherished above all else — your most precious, protected favorite.
from From Old English 'æppel' used for any round object, not just the fruit — ancient anatomists believed the pupil was a solid round ball, like a tiny apple lodged in the eye. Because the pupil is so vital and vulnerable, 'apple of the eye' came to mean something guarded with the same care you'd give your own sight — something you absolutely could not afford to lose.
- origin
- from old english aeppel, meaning pupil, not fruit
- anatomy fail
- pupil is actually a hole, not an object
- biblical use
- deuteronomy calls it something fiercely protected
- modern drift
- now means any person you treasure most