To Have High Ambitions

To have one’s eyes set high is an idiom that describes someone who has ambitious goals and always desires something better or more. It means refusing to be easily satisfied and constantly striving for greater achievements. You can think of it like a mountaineer who dreams of reaching the highest peak.

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Although the exact origin of this idiom is unknown, it is believed to stem from the human nature of striving for advancement and improvement. Throughout history, people have consistently worked to find better circumstances and build better lives. This expression likely emerged over time as a way to capture that drive and ambition. Since one must look upward to see something, the word “high” symbolizes difficult-to-reach and significant goals.

In this idiom, “eye” represents a person’s desires and aspirations, while “high” symbolizes difficult-to-achieve, major, and important successes. The expression conveys that a person’s goals are not ordinary, that they always seek more, and that they are not easily satisfied.

For example, if a footballer works hard to join a better team or a student strives to earn the highest grades, we can say their “eyes are set high.” This is generally viewed as a positive trait because it motivates individuals to work harder and improve themselves.

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This idiom is commonly used in everyday speech to describe someone’s ambition and determination.

• "Ahmet’s eyes are set high, so I knew he wouldn’t be satisfied with just a local championship."
• "Those with their eyes set high always look for opportunities to find better jobs."
• "It is hard to stop someone whose eyes are set high because they are always thinking about their next goal."