Eyelid pull

The eyelid pull is a gesture in which the finger is used to pull one lower eyelid further down, exposing more of the eyeball. This gesture has different meanings in different cultures, but in many cultures, particularly in the Mediterranean, signifies alertness, or a warning to be watchful.^[1]^[2]^[3] In the Italian language, one can say occhio (eye), not necessarily with the gesture, to signify the same.^[4]

In France, the gesture of pulling down one's lower eyelid and saying mon œil, or "my eye", is an expression of disdainful, dismissive disbelief.^[5] Similar variations of the gesture exist in other European countries, for example Poland^[6] or Turkey^{[citation needed]}. The phrase "my eye" is an outdated expression of disbelief in the English language, although without the gesture.^[7]

References

^ James Hall (23 October 2008). The Sinister Side: How Left-right Symbolism Shaped Western Art. OUP Oxford. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-0-19-923086-0.
^ Suzanne Ruthven (26 September 2014). Compass Points: Creating Meaningful Dialogue. John Hunt Publishing. pp. 41–. ISBN 978-1-78279-529-2.
^ Paul Hardwick (2011). English Medieval Misericords: The Margins of Meaning. Boydell Press. pp. 76–. ISBN 978-1-84383-659-9.
^ "English Translation of "occhio"". Collins Italian-English Dictionary. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
^ Mon œil! Archived 2017-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
The French expression mon œil ! is used to express either incredulous/ironic disbelief, like the English expressions "my foot!" or "yeah, right!", or an almost indignant refusal, as in "no way!" or "ain't gonna happen!"
^ "Jedzie mi tu czołg?". Untranslatable. August 2021. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
^
Word Wizard: My eye! / My foot!
- 1842 “Church, MY EYE, woman! church indeed!”—‘Handy Andy’ by S. Lover
- 1905 “‘Tragic, MY EYE!’ said my friend irreverently.”—in ‘Works’ of O. Henry
- 1928 “Gentlemen, ME EYE! You’ve got to get over being gentleman if you’re going to play football on my team!”—in ‘Sport’ by Paxton
- 1929 ‘How about Bigelow's Mill . .. that's a factory.’ ‘Factory MY EYE.’”—‘The Sound and the Fury’ by Faulkner

[Hall2008-1] James Hall (23 October 2008). The Sinister Side: How Left-right Symbolism Shaped Western Art. OUP Oxford. pp. 99–. ISBN 978-0-19-923086-0.

[Ruthven2014-2] Suzanne Ruthven (26 September 2014). Compass Points: Creating Meaningful Dialogue. John Hunt Publishing. pp. 41–. ISBN 978-1-78279-529-2.

[Hardwick2011-3] Paul Hardwick (2011). English Medieval Misericords: The Margins of Meaning. Boydell Press. pp. 76–. ISBN 978-1-84383-659-9.

[4] "English Translation of "occhio"". Collins Italian-English Dictionary. Retrieved 2021-10-31.

[5] Mon œil! Archived 2017-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
The French expression mon œil ! is used to express either incredulous/ironic disbelief, like the English expressions "my foot!" or "yeah, right!", or an almost indignant refusal, as in "no way!" or "ain't gonna happen!"

[6] "Jedzie mi tu czołg?". Untranslatable. August 2021. Retrieved 2024-06-04.

[7] Word Wizard: My eye! / My foot!

1842 “Church, MY EYE, woman! church indeed!”—‘Handy Andy’ by S. Lover

1905 “‘Tragic, MY EYE!’ said my friend irreverently.”—in ‘Works’ of O. Henry

1928 “Gentlemen, ME EYE! You’ve got to get over being gentleman if you’re going to play football on my team!”—in ‘Sport’ by Paxton

1929 ‘How about Bigelow's Mill . .. that's a factory.’ ‘Factory MY EYE.’”—‘The Sound and the Fury’ by Faulkner

[8] 1842 “Church, MY EYE, woman! church indeed!”—‘Handy Andy’ by S. Lover

[9] 1905 “‘Tragic, MY EYE!’ said my friend irreverently.”—in ‘Works’ of O. Henry

[10] 1928 “Gentlemen, ME EYE! You’ve got to get over being gentleman if you’re going to play football on my team!”—in ‘Sport’ by Paxton

[11] 1929 ‘How about Bigelow's Mill . .. that's a factory.’ ‘Factory MY EYE.’”—‘The Sound and the Fury’ by Faulkner

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Eyelid pull

See also

References