使眼色

shǐyǎnsè

phrase

Meanings

1 to give someone a meaningful look
2 to wink at someone (as a signal)
3 to signal with the eyes

Characters

to use; to make

color; expression

Examples

妈妈使了个眼色，叫我别再说话。

Māma shǐ le ge yǎnsè, jiào wǒ bié zài shuōhuà.

Mom shot me a look telling me not to say anything more.

他俩在饭桌上互相使眼色，不知道在打什么主意。

Tā liǎ zài fànzhuō shàng hùxiāng shǐ yǎnsè, bù zhīdào zài dǎ shénme zhǔyi.

The two of them kept exchanging looks at the dinner table — who knows what they were plotting.

Tips

usage

Note the verb-object structure: you can split it with a measure word — 使了个眼色 'gave (someone) a look'. Unlike English 'wink', it's not necessarily one eye — it just means 'communicate silently with a glance'.

Stroke Order

使 shǐ

眼 yǎn

色 sè