private eye

noun

, Slang.

1. a private detective.

private eye

noun

1. informal.
   a private detective

Word History and Origins

Origin of private eye¹

1935–40; eye, allusive phonetic rendering of I, abbreviation of investigator

Idioms and Phrases

A privately employed detective, as opposed to one working for the police or another authority. For example, The children loved stories about private eyes, and Janey wanted to become one . This expression comes from the term private investigator , the “i” of investigator being changed to “eye,” which plays on the idea of a person looking into things. [1930s]

Related Words

• inquiry agent
• P.I.
• private detective
• private dick
• private investigator
• sleuth