It is good or bad, but in our (and at any time) you have to be careful. A person can be told in different ways that he is always on the alert. There is such an expression - "keep your eyes open." The meaning of phraseology, its origin, as well as examples (and not only) we will consider today.
Origin
There is no secret. Many phraseological units arose as a result of human observation of wildlife. The expression in question is just one of those.
When the beast is worried about something, something is disturbing him or various suspicious sounds are heard, he turns his ears to the alleged source of noise and tries to catch what's there. Hearing organs, previously unused, become “sharp”, tense.
Accordingly, "keep an eye out" (the meaning and origin of phraseology is inextricably linked with each other) - to be careful, cautious. In other words, you should not relax.
Plavt and Russian phraseology
It is known for certain that the author of the famous aphorism "Man to man is a wolf" is the Roman comedian Plavt. To the general regret, mankind has not changed much since ancient times, and the aphorism has already become a winged expression.
Someone will think that this is too long a passage to the topic “keep an eye out: the meaning of phraseology”, but it only seems. In fact, everything is connected: both Plavt and our steady expression.
Thus, if people are still quite selfish and insensitive to the needs of others, then it is not a sin to be on their guard with them.
Scouts are those who are always alert
When we need an example of those who always look in all eyes and listen in all ears, then scouts immediately come to mind, for example, the famous Stirlitz Soviet cinema. Here is someone who knows firsthand what to keep an eye on (the meaning of phraseology was given a little earlier), because scouts or double agents depend too much on sensitivity of senses to make a mistake in this sense.
Children need to be taught to be careful.
Not only scouts need the ability to know people and understand who can be trusted and who not. Children will also thank you for it. All the "recruits" of this world need to be reminded during the growing up of folk wisdom, which is hidden in the expression in question. A child should know that the world is not a magical, kind fairy tale. Of course, someone will say that children should believe in bright ideals, but the baby should not be put at risk. If he is not told that in reality there are not only good, but also bad people, in the end he may end up in a company that is not too pleasant, and then his parents will have to deal with the consequences of their overly bright education.
But if the child knew that with some people it is better to keep an eye out (the meaning of phraseology is explained in detail in examples that are close to everyone), then there would be no troubles.
Parenting is a difficult process (although most people don’t even think about it). It requires jewelry accuracy from parents so as not to cause the child too much pain. Unfortunately, one cannot do without pain at all. After all, to educate means to limit a person, to stop evil inclinations and to develop good aspects of character. However, we were distracted from the topic “Keep your eyes open: the meaning of expression”, but there is nothing to worry about, because the reader already has all the necessary information.
Antonym
Surprisingly, the same habit of animals (to listen to noise) gave rise to two expressions that are oppositely charged. On the one hand, when a person is on his guard - it’s good, and when he, on the contrary, loses his vigilance, people say: “Look at him, hung his ears”, and this is already bad.
It is very simple to give an example: a new boss comes to power at work. And it says, in general, the right things about reducing the number of working hours, raising salaries and bonuses, rewarding those who work hardest, and dismissing those who don't. In other words, everything is smooth in theory.
After such a meeting, which happens in every organization, too gullible employees (lovers of hanging ears) said: “Well, now everything will change,” and the cautious muttered under their breath: “They say too beautifully - there will be cuts.” The second were right.
Everything is good in moderation
Naturally, if you take some of the phenomena of the world literally or too seriously, you can go the wrong way. For example, if you keep your eyes open with everyone, you can end the days in a psychiatric hospital. True, if you believe everyone in a row and without any analysis, then you can live not very long or live very poorly. Unfortunately, in our country there are still a lot of people who not only want, but are eager to deceive someone. Fraudsters are a constant value of all time.
How to be, to whom to trust, and to whom not? The mind is given to man. He must develop and improve it. True, it must be said that the majority still learns from mistakes and that people who initially arrived in the world still believe others, and then, having burned themselves, they doubt: is everything as good as it seems at first glance?
Turning to the language of phraseologisms, we can say this: an inexperienced person is inclined to hang his ears. True, to the honor or dishonor of the world, he quickly unleashes this bad habit and makes him keep his eyes open.
Seneca said that only the mind should be developed by a person with all possible zeal, because only he distinguishes him from the animal. It is also worth saying that, no matter how strong the body, it is perishable, and the sharpness of the mind can be maintained until old age. In addition, a developed mind will allow a person to understand people well and understand who should be trusted, and with whom to remain vigilant and careful and not to trust him all secrets.