Why do mothers say 'when you poke your eye out you'll see'?

Question

I meant that if you poke your eye out how will you see!!!?

Answer 1

Well you hard headed brats don't listen for starters so if you poke your eye out..or set yourself on fire....you will see what we are telling you is more than hot air.One good eye or not.

Answer 2

"you'll see" is in reference to You will understand. THAT is why mother's say that...if you're running with a pencil in your hand and fall down you could very well poke your eye out and THEN you will understand WHY your mother told you not to run with a pencil in your hand...SEE?

Answer 3

I think what that really means is if you weren't so opinionated, or stubborn, or so insistent that your way of thinking is the only way of thinking, and probably when you are an adult, that you will then understand that you are not "right", that you will realize the foolishness of your opinion.

She is telling you (without insulting you), that she knows that you will finally realize at some point down the road, that you were wrong.

Answer 4

my mom always said "when you break your neck you'll see". I think they shouldn't say anything and just let you get hurt if you are doing something obviously stupid. But then they should also not tell you "i told you so" after you get hurt, i mean you're already hurt physically so why hurt your ego as well?

Answer 5

because its like...
this is hard to explain.
okay lets say your running with scissors. and someones like no dont do that! your going to stab yourself!!
but you think its alright so you do it anyways
and then when you poke yourself with them i guess you'll know that it wasnt right after all.
thats what it means.

Answer 6

Once you have done the damage, you will understand what the warning was about. Mothers are the wisdom of the ages.

Answer 7

To scare you into stopping whatever ridiculous activity you are doing that is threatening your poor eyes! : P