Why Do We Say ‘Apple Of My Eye?’ Where Did the Expression Come From?

I have a confession to make before you begin reading this video. This site is the Apple of My Eye. I know it may not be much to look at, but I truly enjoy the research journeys I go on to find out these interesting things about food history, food culture, food science, and more. Sure, sometimes it is tons of tedious work, but there is so often a moment of discovery when you discover something that doesn’t meet your long-held expectations.

This particular piece of research was one of those, and, while the actual content of the article is short, the reading I did to prepare it was some of the most fascinating I’ve done for this site. Maybe you won’t find this as fascinating as I did, but I’ll bet what you thought was the origin of the idiom “Apple of my Eye” was mistaken!

The content below is the transcript of a video, hence the more informal language.

What Does Apple of My Eye Mean?

When we call someone the “apple of my eye” we are referring to someone who is precious; someone cherished. Our daughters, or sons we call the apple of our eye. Or our grandchildren. Or our significant other, our soul mate, as it were.

When you think about the origin of this, it is tempting to think, well, okay, maybe apples could be seen as precious. Maybe not everyone could get them. And so you might look at a loved one the same way you look at a precious piece of fruit.

But then, of course, you have to ask, really? Apples? C’mon. Why not a diamond or even a piece of hard candy? It just doesn’t seem to fly. And it doesn’t fly because that is NOT really the origin of the expression. It actually had to do with the eye itself, rather than something the eye looked on, or regarded as precious.

So, Why Apple?

Could apples be seen as precious? Well, perhaps but there are many other better candidates, such as a precious jewel. In reality, the origin of the expression ‘apple of my eye’ has nothing to do with looking at a piece of prized fruit. It actually had to do with the eye itself, rather than something the eye looked on or regarded as precious.

First of all, we find the phrase “Apple of My Eye” or variations on it, in the bible several times, such as God calling the Israelites the apple of His eye. However, it’s important to know that these translations were English translations, and the bible did not actually originally use them.

In other words, the English expression was applied as an approximation of what was actually written. But it’s obvious that the idiom is quite old and it comes from a mistaken belief about anatomy.

See, people used to think that the pupil of your eye was not just round, but spherical, shaped, like any piece of round fruit, such as an apple. Now, keep in mind, by the way, that the word apple has cognates in all the Germanic languages, and originally could refer to any type of fruit, not just the fruit we call an apple today.

Not only did people think that the pupil of the eye was an actual round ball, but that it was the center of vision and of extreme importance to our body, health, and well-being. They may have even believed it was the seat of the soul.

Regardless, it was something that was precious and something you must guard and protect. And, obviously, we automatically shield our eyes by reflexively closing them and putting our hands up when our eyes and face, are threatened and we try to protect them from bright sunlight, etc.

And, vision has traditionally been seen as the most important sense, even without all these other beliefs about the deeper importance of the pupil.

So, this hard, round ball in the middle of your eye, shaped like a piece of fruit, and of such singular importance, was the “Apple of Your Eye.” You valued it and protected it. Just as you cherish, guard, and protect your loved ones, whom you consider just as the apple of your eye.