Don't Miss a Thing With 'Eagle Eyes'

01And now, words and their stories, from VOA Learning English.

02From above, birds must have a wonderful view of the world below.

03Flying over everything at such a height gives them a rare ability to see many things.

04In English, we use the term bird's eye view to describe a view from above, as if seen by a bird in flight.

05It is also described as an overall view, or big picture view.

06For example, when I start a project, I first like to get a bird's eye view.

07I ask myself several important questions.

08What is the overall goal?

09Who is the main focus?

10What resources do I have available to me?

11Answers to these big picture questions can help me understand the scope of the project.

12Now, let's talk about noticing the smaller details.

13Some birds, called raptors, are known for their extremely sharp vision.

14Eagles, hawks, and owls can see their prey from very far away.

15The raptor center is part of the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine.

16Its website explains why eagles, hawks, and owls see so well.

17Raptors have powerful binocular vision, where both their left and right eyes can see and focus on a single object.

18Eagles and hawks also have a special bone structure around their eyes that protects them from bright sunlight.

19Their ability to focus on faraway details, in addition to other factors, make them extremely effective hunters.

20In English, the keen vision of eagles and hawks describes a certain type of person.

21If you have an eagle eye, you have the ability to see or notice distant objects.

22Also, you observe everything, even very small details, which others might miss.

23On the same note, someone who is hawk-eyed watches and notices everything that happens.

24These types of people may even perceive things that are not clear to others.

25Both eagle-eyed and hawk-eyed people are observant or perceptive.

26A person does not have to have this ability all the time.

27They might use their keen vision and powers of observation only at certain times, especially times when they need to keep a close watch.

28For example, during Christmas time, hawk-eyed children might search the sky looking for Santa Claus.

29These children may not be very observant during the rest of the year, but during Christmas time, they are looking for gifts.

30Let's hear these terms used between two friends.

31This is a great party.

32Thanks for inviting me.

33The more the merrier.

34This yearly neighborhood party always draws a huge number of people.

35I'd say so.

36There must be over a hundred people here.

37Hey, wait a minute.

38I think I see our old co-worker.

39Isn't that Samantha way over there by the food and drinks?

40I don't know.

41I can't see that far.

42It's her.

43My eagle eyes don't miss a thing.

44I'm going to go say hi and grab the last hamburger while I'm there.

45Oh, and you should let the hosts know that they're low on drinks.

46Wow, you're right.

47I didn't realize you were so hawk-eyed.

48Only at parties.

49I start off with a bird's eye view and then focus in on the food, drinks, and people I want to see more closely.

50See you in a few.

51The term eagle eye has been used for hundreds of years.

52Word experts say it was first used in writing in the mid-1500s.

53The Oxford English Dictionary website says the earliest evidence for eagle eye is from 1567 in the writing of Thomas Stapleton, a Roman Catholic theologian.

54A theologian is an expert in religious thought.

55And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.

56Until next time, I'm Anna Mateo.

57The Oxford English Dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary The Oxford English Dictionary