to see the whites of one's eyes
01
to be in a situation where one is extremely close to someone, typically during a confrontation or high-stakes moment, often implying imminent action or danger
Formal
例
The soldiers waited until they could see the whites of the enemy ’s eyes before opening fire.
02
to observe someone’s emotions, such as fear or determination, especially when their expression is extreme or evident in their eyes
Informal例
When the teacher announced the surprise test, I saw the whites of my classmates' eyes widen in shock.
