evil eye

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ˈe•vil ˈeye, n. [countable]

1. a look believed capable of inflicting injury or bad luck on someone.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

e′vil eye′, 

1. a look thought capable of inflicting injury or bad luck on the person at whom it is directed.
2. the power, superstitiously attributed to certain persons, of inflicting injury or bad luck by such a look.
• Middle English, Old English bef. 1000
e′vil-eyed′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

evil eye noun the evil eye ⇒

1. a look or glance superstitiously supposed to have the power of inflicting harm or injury
2. the power to inflict harm, etc, by such a look

ˌevil-ˈeyed adjective