Keep your eyes peeled

Posted by ESC November 17, 2000In reply to Keep em peeled posted by Martin on November 16, 2000

Does anybody know where keep em peeled the saying come from, I heard that it dates back to the early 30's in London is this correct? Can anyone help me.

Thank You

As in eyes?

KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED -- To keep your eyes peeled for something is to keep them wide open, to keep a sharp lookout. The earliest known form of the frontier expression, recorded in 1833, was to 'keep your eyes skinned' (presumably meaning with the lids drawn back): 'I wish I may be shot if I don't think you had better keep your eyes skinned so that you can look powerful sharp.'" From Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Frederickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).