sight

Universal Words noun, verb noun ability to see 1 [U] the ability to see: to lose your sight (= to become blind) * She has very good sight. * The disease has affected her sight. * He has very little sight in his right eye. seealsoEYESIGHT act of seeing 2 [U] ~ of sb/sth the act of seeing sb/sth: After ten days at sea, we had our first sight of land. * I have been known to faint at the sight of blood. * The soldiers were given orders to shoot on sight (= as soon as they saw sb). * She caught sight of a car in the distance. * The mere sight of him makes me want to scream. how far you can see 3 [U] the area or distance within which sb can see or sth can be seen: There was no one in sight. * They stole everything in sight. * At last we came in sight of a few houses. * A bicycle came into sight on the main road. * The end is in sight (= will happen soon). * Leave any valuables in your car out of sight. * Keep out of sight (= stay where you cannot be seen). * She never lets her daughter out of her sight (= always keeps her where she can see her). * Get out of my sight! (= Go away!) * The boat disappeared from sight. * The house was hidden from sight behind some trees. * He had placed himself directly in my line of sight. what you can see 4 [C] a thing that you see or can see: It's a spectacular sight as the flamingos lift into the air. * The museum attempts to recreate the sights and sounds of wartime Britain. * He was a sorry sight, soaked to the skin and shivering. * The bird is now a rare sight in this country. * He became a familiar sight on the streets of Oxford. interesting places 5 (sights) [pl.] the interesting places, especially in a town or city, that are often visited by tourists: We're going to Paris for the weekend to see the sights. * It's best if you can get someone local to show you the sights. ridiculous / untidy person 6 (a sight) [sing.] (informal, especially BrE) a person or thing that looks ridiculous, untidy, unpleasant, etc: She looks a sight in that hat! on gun / telescope 7 [C,usually pl.] a device that you look through to aim a gun, etc. or to look at sth through a TELESCOPE, etc: He had the deer in his sights now. * (figurative) Even as a young actress, she always had Hollywood firmly in her sights (= as her final goal). IDIOMS at first sight 1 when you first begin to consider sth: At first sight, it may look like a generous offer, but always read the small print. 2 when you see sb/sth for the first time: It was love at first sight (= we fell in love the first time we saw each other). * We fell in love with the house at first sight. hate, be sick of, etc. the sight of sb/sth (informal) to hate, etc. sb/sth very much: I can't stand the sight of him! in the sight of sb / in sb's sight (formal) in sb's opinion: We are all equal in the sight of God. lose sight of sb/sth 1 to become no longer able to see sb/sth: They finally lost sight of land. 2 to stop considering sth; to forget sth: We must not lose sight of our original aim. out of sight, out of mind (saying) used to say sb will quickly be forgotten when they are no longer with you raise / lower your sights to expect more/less from a situation: If they can't afford such a big house, they'll just have to lower their sights a little. set your sights on sth / on doing sth to decide that you want sth and to try very hard to get it: She's set her sights on getting into Harvard. * I had set my sights on a career in journalism. a (damn, etc.) sight better, etc.