"keep a weather eye"

Posted by Bruce Kahl on March 21, 2000

In Reply to: "Keep a weather eye" posted by trevor on March 21, 2000

The phrase is nautical.
It means to watch carefully or focus on something.

The weather affects us all, both "salty seadogs" and "landlubbers" alike, but there is one major difference. For the "landlubber", failing to check the weather forecast before leaving home and consequently not taking an umbrella along, could probably lead to nothing more than a heavy soaking.
For the sailor however, failing to check the forecast prior to leaving shore could have severe, if not fatal consequences.