Idiom
Eye to eye
What does 'see eye to eye' mean?
'See eye to eye' means to share the same opinion or agree about a particular subject. For example, 'The neighbours see eye to eye on the parking arrangements.' Use 'with' for the person and 'on' or 'about' for the topic; use 'do not see eye to eye' when opinions differ.
Key points
- The idiom describes agreement about a particular topic.
- Use 'with' before the person involved.
- Use 'on' or 'about' before the subject.
- It does not mean physical eye contact.
Can you use "Eye to eye" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
Watch & learn
Eye to eye: meaning and listening practice
Learn Eye to eye with Bella, then practise with British and American conversations, speaking time and common questions. B2 English.
Line 1 of 8 · Bella (tutor)
to MicroEnglish. Two are a :
Say this line out loud, then continue.
The video could not continue. Try again or use the transcript below.
Your session
Learn with the video 15 min
Watch a short part, answer one question, practise what you heard, then check in with the tutor.
The first part is free. Members continue to part 2 and can ask for more.
Key words in this video
Example
Memory tip
Goes with
Related forms
Not to be confused with
From this video
We couldn't load this word. Try again.
The full explanation
To see eye to eye means to share the same opinion or agree with someone about a specific matter.
I see eye to eye with my manager on the project deadline.
Why it works: 'With' introduces the person who shares the opinion, and 'on' introduces the topic.
2 more examples
-
My parents do not see eye to eye about moving to a smaller house.
The negative auxiliary 'do not' shows a difference of opinion on the topic introduced by 'about'.
-
Did you and your coworker see eye to eye during the budget meeting?
In a question with 'did', use the base verb form 'see', never 'saw'.
Read the full guide
Decide whether people share an opinion
When you want to describe agreement between two people, you can use the complete expression see eye to eye. This expression means that both people hold the same view on a particular matter. It does not mean looking directly into someone's physical eyes. People often use this phrase when discussing a single topic where their thoughts align. Sharing an opinion on one decision does not mean you agree on every topic or that you share the same personality.
-
The designers see eye to eye on the website layout.
Why it works: Both designers hold the same view regarding how the website should look.
-
Carlos and his tenant see eye to eye about the lease terms.
Why it works: Both parties agree on the conditions written in the rental contract.
Your turn
What does it mean if two colleagues see eye to eye on a project deadline?
Answer: They share the same opinion about when the project should finish.
Show the answer
Answer: They share the same opinion about when the project should finish.
The idiom describes shared opinions about a specific topic, not physical eye contact or universal agreement.
Identify disagreement in everyday conversation
Sam and Priya are discussing whether to adopt a rescue dog for their home: Sam: "A rescue dog would bring so much energy to our flat. Let us adopt one this weekend!" Priya: "I love animals too, Sam, but our third-floor flat is far too small for an energetic dog." Sam: "We could take turns walking the dog in the park every morning." Priya: "Even with daily walks, a big dog needs outdoor space. We simply do not see eye to eye on getting a pet right now." Even though both housemates love animals, they do not share the same opinion about keeping a pet in their small flat.
-
Sam and Priya do not see eye to eye about adopting a dog.
Why it works: Their opinions differ specifically on whether to keep a dog in their small apartment.
-
They love dogs, but they do not see eye to eye on apartment pets.
Why it works: Personal affection for animals does not prevent disagreement about living conditions.
This also comes up in Have a word and The elephant in the room.
Your turn
In the conversation between Sam and Priya, which point represents their actual disagreement?
Answer: Whether keeping an energetic dog in their small apartment is a good idea
Show the answer
Answer: Whether keeping an energetic dog in their small apartment is a good idea
Both housemates like animals, but their opinions clash over keeping a dog in their small third-floor flat.
Add the person and the topic smoothly
You can expand the basic expression step by step to add specific details. Start with the core statement: We see eye to eye. Next, add the person using the preposition with: I see eye to eye with my housemate. Then, add the topic using on or about: We see eye to eye on the rent. Finally, you can combine both pieces: I see eye to eye with my housemate about the cleaning schedule. When the context is already obvious to your listener, you can omit either addition.
-
I see eye to eye with Nina on the kitchen cleaning schedule.
Why it works: With introduces the person, while on introduces the specific topic.
-
The roommates see eye to eye about splitting utility bills.
Why it works: About introduces a simple noun phrase naming the shared topic.
Your turn
Which sentence correctly connects both the person and the topic?
Answer: I see eye to eye with my roommate on the utility bill.
Show the answer
Answer: I see eye to eye with my roommate on the utility bill.
English uses 'with' to introduce the person and 'on' or 'about' to introduce the topic.
Express differences and ask questions
To express disagreement, place an auxiliary verb and not before see. Say we don't see eye to eye, or he doesn't see eye to eye with us. For the past tense, use saw in positive statements and didn't see in negative statements. After did or didn't, always return to the base verb see. Notice the difference between we don't see eye to eye and we don't always see eye to eye. Adding always softens the disagreement and shows that you still agree on other points.
-
Marcus doesn't see eye to eye with his brother on politics.
Why it works: Does not with the base verb see marks disagreement for a third-person singular subject.
-
Do you and your landlord see eye to eye about repairs?
Why it works: The auxiliary do begins the question, followed by the subject and the base verb see.
Your turn
How does adding 'always' change the meaning of 'We don't see eye to eye'?
Answer: It softens the statement by acknowledging occasional agreement.
Show the answer
Answer: It softens the statement by acknowledging occasional agreement.
'We don't always see eye to eye' means you agree sometimes, which sounds calmer and less absolute than a total disagreement.
Select between the idiom and plain words
The idiom see eye to eye belongs in casual speech, friendly emails, and ordinary workplace discussions. In contrast, formal contracts, official reports, and legal correspondence call for plain verbs like agree or concur. Another related idiom is on the same page, which you can read about in /idioms/on-the-same-page/. While see eye to eye focuses on shared opinions, on the same page often refers to shared understanding or working with identical information. Choosing plain phrasing prevents informal expressions from distracting readers in serious documents.
-
Both companies agreed to the revised delivery schedule.
Why it works: Plain phrasing suits formal commercial agreements and legal contracts.
-
The supervisors see eye to eye on weekly production targets.
Why it works: The idiom fits relaxed spoken discussion between colleagues at work.
Your turn
Where is the plain verb 'agree' a better choice than 'see eye to eye'?
Answer: In a formal contract drafted by company lawyers
Show the answer
Answer: In a formal contract drafted by company lawyers
Formal business contracts and legal documents require plain, literal vocabulary rather than colloquial idioms.
Avoid common errors with the fixed form
Because see eye to eye is a fixed expression, you must protect its exact structure. Keep both words of eye singular; never say see eyes to eyes. Connect people with with rather than to; saying see eye to eye to someone is incorrect. Do not insert the verb be before see, as in are see eye to eye. When asking past questions with did, use the base form see, never saw. Finally, write the verb phrase as separate words without hyphens unless it appears before a noun as a compound modifier.
-
Did you see eye to eye with the contractor on the price?
Why it works: After did, the base form see is required, not saw.
-
We see eye to eye on the proposal.
Why it works: Both nouns remain singular eye, and the verb phrase contains no hyphens.
Your turn
Which sentence contains a grammatical error?
Answer: My coworkers are see eye to eye on the plan.
Show the answer
Answer: My coworkers are see eye to eye on the plan.
Do not add the auxiliary verb 'are' before the base verb 'see'; say 'My coworkers see eye to eye.'
Recognize the spoken chunk in fast speech
In natural speech, native speakers pronounce eye to eye as a single connected unit. The word to is usually reduced to a weak form with a schwa vowel, sounding like /tə/. The entire three-word unit therefore sounds like /aɪ tə aɪ/. In very careful or deliberate speech, a speaker might pronounce to with a full vowel as /tuː/, but the weak reduction is far more common. Remember also that the noun eye sounds identical to the pronoun I. Rely on sentence structure to tell them apart.
-
I see eye to eye with Clara on this topic.
Why it works: The first /aɪ/ is the pronoun I, while the later /aɪ/ sounds form the idiom.
-
They rarely see eye to eye about money.
Why it works: In fluent speech, eye to eye flows together as one rhythmic chunk.
Your turn
How is the preposition 'to' most commonly pronounced inside the phrase 'eye to eye'?
Answer: As a weak syllable with a neutral schwa vowel /tə/
Show the answer
Answer: As a weak syllable with a neutral schwa vowel /tə/
Connected speech typically reduces 'to' to the weak vowel /tə/, linking the two identical 'eye' sounds.
Recall the pattern and write your own sentence
Testing your recall helps lock the idiom into memory. First, complete this supported gap task: 'My brother and I do not s__ e__ t_ e__ about money.' Answer: 'see eye to eye'. Next, complete an agree-or-disagree paraphrase task: rewrite 'We disagree about the schedule' using the idiom. Answer: 'We do not see eye to eye on the schedule'. Finally, write an original personal sentence about a real disagreement from memory without checking the model. Example response: 'My flatmate and I do not see eye to eye about cleaning the kitchen.'
-
My sister and I do not see eye to eye about where to spend the holidays.
Why it works: The sentence uses the negative present form to describe a real personal disagreement.
-
We saw eye to eye on the renovation budget from day one.
Why it works: The past form saw accurately describes an agreement reached in the past.
Your turn
Which sentence correctly paraphrases 'My roommate and I disagree about the heating bill'?
Answer: My roommate and I do not see eye to eye on the heating bill.
Show the answer
Answer: My roommate and I do not see eye to eye on the heating bill.
The negative form 'do not see eye to eye on' correctly paraphrases disagreement while keeping singular 'eye' and preposition 'on'.
Common mistakes with "eye to eye"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
We see eyes to eyes about the timetable.Say: We see eye to eye about the timetable.
The fixed expression uses singular 'eye' twice.
-
Not this:
I see eye to eye to my colleague on the budget.Say: I see eye to eye with my colleague on the budget.
Use 'with' to introduce the person you agree or disagree with.
-
Not this:
Did they saw eye to eye on the plan?Say: Did they see eye to eye on the plan?
After 'did', use the base verb 'see', not 'saw'.
-
Not this:
The partners are see eye to eye on the investment.Say: The partners see eye to eye on the investment.
Do not insert 'are' before the verb phrase.
Use it naturally
How people really use “see eye to eye”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- see eye to eye withI see eye to eye with my coach on the value of regular practice.
- see eye to eye onWe see eye to eye on the best way to welcome new members.
- see eye to eye aboutMy cousin and I see eye to eye about protecting local parks.
- rarely see eye to eyeThose two critics rarely see eye to eye when they discuss modern art.
What people also say
- “We see eye to eye on this.” instead of “We have an identical opinion concerning this.” This sounds more relaxed in everyday conversation.
Questions about "Eye to eye"
What does 'see eye to eye' mean?
To see eye to eye means to share the same opinion or agree about a specific issue. It does not refer to physical eye contact. When two people see eye to eye, their thoughts on a topic match.
My sister and I see eye to eye on most family decisions.
Do I use 'with', 'on' or 'about' after it?
Use 'with' before the person you agree with, and 'on' or 'about' before the topic. You can use either preposition for the topic with no difference in meaning. Both additions are optional if the context is already clear.
I see eye to eye with Daniel on the schedule.
We do not see eye to eye about dinner plans.
How do I say that we disagree?
Place an auxiliary verb and 'not' before 'see'. In the present tense, say 'do not see eye to eye' or 'does not see eye to eye'. To soften the disagreement, add 'always', as in 'We do not always see eye to eye.'
My manager and I do not see eye to eye on the marketing strategy.
We do not always see eye to eye, but we work well together.
Does it mean we agree about everything?
No, it does not mean complete agreement on every topic. You can see eye to eye on one specific subject while holding opposite opinions on another. It also does not imply a deep friendship or identical personalities.
We see eye to eye on the budget, but we disagree about hiring.
Can I use 'see eye to eye' at work?
Yes, it is very common in spoken workplace conversations and everyday team emails. For formal contracts, legal documents, or official company policies, use the plain verb 'agree' instead.
Our team sees eye to eye on the launch date.
Is the past form 'saw eye to eye'?
Yes, in positive past sentences, change 'see' to 'saw'. In negative past sentences or questions with 'did', keep the base verb 'see'. Never change the noun 'eye' to plural.
We saw eye to eye on the price immediately.
Did you see eye to eye with your supervisor?
Before you go
Remember this
Use 'see eye to eye' to describe shared opinions. Add 'with' for the person, add 'on' or 'about' for the topic, and change only the verb 'see' for tense or person.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
From the video? The same four practices are here in full: listen, read, speak and write. Back to the video
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- My parents do not see eye to eye about moving to a smaller house.
- Did you and your coworker see eye to eye during the budget meeting?
Read the transcript
My brother and I see eye to eye about saving money.
The idiom 'see eye to eye' shows shared agreement, followed by 'about' to introduce the topic.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'brother and I,' listen for 'n': 'and' becomes a very short sound.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'brother and I,' listen for 'n': 'and' becomes a very short sound.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'brother and I,' listen for 'n': 'and' becomes a very short sound.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- My parents do not see eye to eye about moving to a smaller house.
- Did you and your coworker see eye to eye during the budget meeting?
Read the transcript
We do not see eye to eye on the office rules.
The negative auxiliary 'do not' expresses disagreement on the topic introduced by 'on'.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- In 'not see,' listen for 'no(t) see': the t may drop out before the s sound.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- My parents do not see eye to eye about moving to a smaller house.
- Did you and your coworker see eye to eye during the budget meeting?
Read the transcript
Elena and I rarely see eye to eye on kitchen duties, but we always agree on the monthly grocery bill.
'Rarely see eye to eye' highlights infrequent agreement about cleaning duties while showing contrast with grocery costs.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'always agree,' listen for 'alway-sagree': the final sound of 'always' joins the start of 'agree'.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'always agree,' listen for 'alway-sagree': the final sound of 'always' joins the start of 'agree'.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- In 'always agree,' listen for 'alway-sagree': the final sound of 'always' joins the start of 'agree'.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
- My parents do not see eye to eye about moving to a smaller house.
- Did you and your coworker see eye to eye during the budget meeting?
Read the transcript
When our design team met about the winter campaign, Clara and I did not see eye to eye on the primary color palette. She wanted bright yellow banners, while I chose calm blue tones. After we studied customer survey results, we finally reached a sensible compromise that pleased our manager.
The recording uses 'did not see eye to eye on' to show an initial difference of opinion before finding a solution.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Practice complete
You listened closely.
Your result is saved in this browser.
Keep your progress. Your practice is saved on this device only. Create a free account to keep it everywhere.
Create a free accountThat was today's free lesson. Tomorrow you get another one. Want more today? See membership.
Create a free SubLearn account to keep this progress across devices.
Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
My brother and I see eye to eye about saving money.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory. Imagine you are visiting an art museum with a friend. Describe a painting you both like and another that gets different reactions. Explain where your opinions match and where they differ.
Use: see eye to eye do not see eye to eye
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Hear how someone else might say it
I'm at an art museum with my friend Maya. We see eye to eye about a painting of a crowded train station. We both love the warm colors and the way the artist captures people rushing around. However, we do not see eye to eye on a huge painting of three black squares. Maya thinks it expresses loneliness, while I find it a little boring. She points out the empty space around each square, which helps me understand her reaction. I'd like to look at it again before we leave.
Try once more and answer this: What detail in the painting caught your attention first?
Stage 4 of 5
Write
Write about your own day or week using it, then write a message.
Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “see eye to eye”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
Write your own response
Choose a situation and write 30–50 words in your own wording. This is separate from typing the exact words in a recording.
Check your own writing
Read one possible response
Use these checks to revise your message. Grammar and meaning are not automatically graded. Each task keeps its own draft in this browser tab.
You finished the free part of this lesson
- Understand
- Listen
- Speak
- Write
- CheckPart of membership
Worth another look
With a free account, the lessons you finish come back for review to help you remember them.Create a free account
Stage 5 of 5 · Part of membership
Check
New clips without hints.
Listening tests are included with membership. Try the free dictation first, then decide whether to continue.
Listening 1 of 2 Part of membership
Listening 2 of 2 Part of membership
Follow MicroEnglish
New lessons, short videos and quick quizzes every day. Pick the app you already use.
Questions & comments
Ask about this lesson, share an example, or help another learner.
Example
Memory tip
Goes with
Related forms
Not to be confused with
In this lesson
This word isn't in our dictionary. Check the spelling, or try another form of the word.
We couldn't load this word. Try again.
