Collins Chinese Dictionary Plus (3rd edition), 2011:
眼巴巴 yǎnbābā 形
1 (形容急切盼望) eager
- 孩子们(們)眼巴巴地盼着(著)过(過)年。 Háizimen yǎnbābā de pànzhe guònián. The children were eagerly awaiting the New Year.
2 (形容无可奈何) helpless
- 他眼巴巴地看着(著)自己的家被大火吞噬。 Tā yǎnbābā de kànzhe zìjǐ de jiā bèi dàhuǒ tūnshì. He watched helplessly as he saw his house being engulfed by flames.