black eye

Definitions

1. A periorbital hematoma; a visible bruise surrounding a person's eye; an assault causing such a bruise; the eye involved.
2. A defeat.
   figuratively
3. Damage to a reputation.
   figuratively
4. An eye having a dark iris, regarded as a point of beauty.
   dated
5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see black, eye.

Equivalents

Examples

“"You got a black eye out of him, and that's for publication. We can't have⟳ this reign of terror, Mr. Malone."”

“He looked downward in mournful gloom at the skeet-shooting range he had ordered built for the officers on his headquarters staff, and he recalled the mortifying afternoon General Dreedle had tongue-lashed him ruthlessly in front of Colonel Korn and Major Danby and ordered him to throw⟳ open⟳ the range to all the enlisted men and officers on combat duty. The skeet-shooting range had been a real black eye for him, Colonel Cathcart was forced to conclude⟳.”

CEFR level