Word: Black Eye
Definition: 1. Literal Meaning: A black eye is a swollen bruise around the eye that usually happens when someone gets hit in the face. The area around the eye becomes dark and discolored due to bleeding under the skin.
Usage Instructions: - When talking about an injury, use "black eye" in a sentence to describe the physical condition. - When discussing reputation or public opinion, use "black eye" to express how someone's actions negatively impact a person or a group.
Examples: - Literal: "He got a black eye after playing in the basketball game." - Figurative: "The scandal gave the company a black eye, and many customers lost trust in their products."
Advanced Usage: In more complex discussions, you might see "black eye" used in contexts relating to public relations or crisis management. For example, "The incident resulted in a significant black eye for the organization, affecting their credibility."
Word Variants: - The phrase "black-eye" can also be used as an adjective in some contexts, such as "black-eye pea," which refers to a type of legume.
Different Meanings: - The main meanings revolve around physical injury and reputational damage, but context will clarify whether you are discussing an actual bruise or a metaphorical "black eye."
Synonyms: - For the physical injury: "bruise," "contusion." - For the reputational damage: "stigma," "taint," "blemish."
Idioms: - "To take a black eye" means to suffer a setback or damage to reputation. - "Give someone a black eye" can mean to harm someone's reputation.
Phrasal Verbs: - While there aren’t specific phrasal verbs that include "black eye," you might say "to come under fire," which means to be criticized, similar to how one might receive a "black eye" in reputation.
Summary: A "black eye" can refer to a physical injury caused by a blow to the eye or a figurative way to describe a damage to reputation.