laid eyes on
Caught sight of
Laid eyes on means to see or look at someone or something, typically for the first time or after a long absence.
It almost always appears with a negative or in contexts emphasizing a memorable first encounter: I haven't laid eyes on him in years, From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew.
The phrase suggests more than casual seeing—it implies significance, whether romantic, surprising, or long-awaited.
- catch sight ofNotice visually, briefly
- come acrossFind accidentally
- stumble uponFind unexpectedly
- glimpseFleeting view
- first glanceEarliest visual assessment
find · admire · observe · beheld · spot · realize · eyeful · uncover · detect · captivate · enchant · love at first sight · glance · locate · identify · appreciate · marvel · astonish
attention/awareness
laid eyes onoverlooked
Not noticed or considered
missed · passed over · ignored · disregarded · glossed over