opera glasses

[ op-er-uh glas-iz, glah-siz, op-ruh ]

plural noun

1. a small, low-power pair of binoculars for use at plays, concerts, and the like.

opera glasses

plural noun

1. small low-powered binoculars used by audiences in theatres and opera houses

Word History and Origins

Origin of opera glasses¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

People do like screens and close-ups, which make opera glasses obsolete.

From Los Angeles Times

You don’t need opera glasses to see that Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” takes on more than just country music.

From New York Times

Margarita Bunova had just got hold of opera glasses for the show when she heard what she thought were firecrackers, which then turned into rapid bursts that she and her husband identified as gunfire.

From BBC

In cities, people flocked to parks with binoculars — or opera glasses.

From Los Angeles Times

LONDON‌ — In a hotel suite overlooking a darkening Leicester Square, the actor Warwick Davis picked up a pair of opera glasses and pointed them in the direction of the Empire Cinema.

From New York Times