The Apple of My Eye

Hi, you have A Way with Words.

Yes, hello. This is Kathleen Weinbergs.

Hi, Kathleen. Where are you calling from?

I’m calling from San Diego.

Well, hello. What’s on your mind today, Kathleen?

What I want to know is the origin of the expression, you’re the apple of my eye.

Well, I can tell you, Kathleen, this phrase is really old. I mean, it is one of the oldest expressions that I’ve come across in English. It goes all the way back to at least the 9th century.

Oh, my goodness.

And the answer is pretty simple. Centuries ago, people assumed that the pupil of your eye was actually this little hard, round object, kind of like an apple.

Oh, my goodness.

They didn’t notice that it changed size?

Well, I guess, you know, growing up, I didn’t think about that. But there’s been, Kathleen, in many languages, including English, a long tradition of connecting one’s eye with something that is really cherished, something that’s really treasured. And so metaphorically, that part of your eye, the pupil, is something that you treasure, and that got applied to other things that you cherish, like a person.

Oh, that’s very sweet. That’s very nice.

Isn’t that lovely?

Yes, it is. Wow.

Well, you’re the new apple of our eye, right, Grant?

Thank you very much.

Yes, absolutely.

Thank you so much for your show.

All right.

You’re welcome.

Thank you for calling, Kathleen.

All right.

Bye-bye now.

Bye-bye.

Grant, there’s so much to say about all this.

Well, spill.

We’ve got time.

Well, you know, speaking about the pupil of your eye, the pupil is so named because of the Latin word pupilla, which meant little doll or puppet, because, you know, when you look up close at somebody’s eyes, you can see this little image of yourself.

Isn’t that fabulous?

I love it.

That’s great.

I love it.

And in fact, the Hebrew term that the King James is translating, it translates literally as little man. The little man in your eye.

One other thing to say about this grant that you’ll appreciate, you know, the French word for pupil, the pupil of the eye.

I don’t actually know that word.

It’s prunel. Little plum.

Little plum.

Little plum.

There we go.

Isn’t that great?

Mm—

That’s very nice.

Oh, and Kathleen is a kindred spirit. Love it, love it, love it.

The world apparently is filled with them.

They keep calling.

I know.

And you can too. Call 1-877-929-9673 or email us.

What’s that address, Grant?

The email address is words@waywordradio.org.

And you can drop by our discussion forum at waywordradio.org and tell the whole world what’s on your mind.