Nuance Dictionary / Social Situations
눈독을 들이다 Nundog-eul deurida
To silently fixate on a desirable object or portion of food, mentally marking it as your own prize.
What does 눈독을 들이다 mean?
눈독을 들이다 (Nundog-eul deurida) means: To silently fixate on a desirable object or portion of food, mentally marking it as your own prize.
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How it's actually used
- 마지막 남은 치킨 조각에 다들 눈독을 들이는 눈치네.
ma-ji-mak nam-eun chi-kin jo-gak-e da-deul nun-dog-eul deu-ri-neun nun-chi-ne.
I can tell everyone is eyeing that last piece of chicken.
💡 Highlights the social awareness of knowing everyone else is mentally staking a claim. - 저 가방 계속 눈독 들이고 있었는데 오늘 드디어 세일하네!
jeo ga-bang gye-sok nun-dog deu-ri-go is-seot-neun-de o-neul deu-di-eo se-il-ha-ne!
I've been eyeing that bag for so long, and it's finally on sale today!
💡 Shows the long-term, patient obsession with a coveted item. - 남의 떡에 눈독 들이지 말고 네 거나 잘해.
nam-ui tteog-e nun-dog deu-ri-ji mal-go ne geo-na jal-hae.
Stop eyeing what belongs to others and focus on your own stuff.
💡 A common idiomatic warning used when someone is being greedy about someone else's success or item.
Related words in Social Situations
폭풍 pok-pung손에 땀을 쥐다 Son-e ttam-eul jwida손이 크다 soni keuda숨이 턱 막히다 sumi teok makhida티끌모아 ti-kkeul-mo-a