sheep's eye

plural sheep's eyes

1. A secretive, pining look, or humble doting glance.

   He had ever a sheep's eye for thee, and, if I remember rightly, thou wast sweet upon him once.

   1875, Anthony Trollope, Never, never, -- Never, never: A Condensed Novel in Three Parts, after the Manner of Bret Harte

   2 more examples

   those of an amorous roguish look derive their title even from the sheep, and we say such a one has a sheep's eye, not so much to denote the innocence as the simple slyness of the cast.

   1864, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, number 250

   No less an eminence than former President Taft himself (who had long cast a sheep's eye on the high court) privately called the nomination “one of the deepest wounds that I have ever had as an American and a lover of the Constitution and a believer in progressive conservatism.”

   2013, A Scott Berg, Wilson, Berkley, published 2014, page 400

   Synonyms: cow eyes