2006-09-26 02:37:35 · 8 answers · asked by Bruce B 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
The phrase is exceedingly old and first appears in Old English in a work attributed to King Aelfred (the Great) of Wessex, AD 885, entitled ' Gregory's Pastoral care'. The earliest recorded use in modern English is in Sir Walter Scott's 'Old Mortality', 1816:
"Poor Richard was to me as an eldest son, the apple of my eye."
It also appears in the Bible - Deuteronomy 32:10:
He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
and Zechariah 2:8:
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
2006-09-26 02:39:29 · answer #1 · answered by stomm 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "apple of the eye" is an old expression for eyeball.
In German the eyeball is still called "Augapfel"=eye apple.
It has been pointed out already where it's supposed to have been used first.
2006-09-26 03:54:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easy. When one smiles, one can view the puffing up of cheek muscles as you look down. Try it. Smile, you can see the apples of your own cheeks.
When another person makes you happy all the time simple by being present, he or she is the "apple" of your eyes
2006-09-29 18:36:16 · answer #3 · answered by QuiteNewHere 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's biblical,referring to the apple Eve took out of the garden.Forbidden fruit.
2006-09-27 08:53:42 · answer #4 · answered by Celebrity girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This sort of expression is a "idiom". This one comes from the bible, Psalm 17:8.
2006-09-26 02:40:30 · answer #5 · answered by Yngona D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i know Stevie wonder sang that in one of his songs
2006-09-26 02:45:13 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-app1.htm
2006-09-26 02:38:50 · answer #7 · answered by Janbull 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
grandpa
2006-09-26 02:38:50 · answer #8 · answered by DeaconFrost 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋