目(め)を引(ひ)く

めをひく

expression

to catch the eye; to attract attention

1. to catch the eye; to stand out; to draw attention

Said of something whose appearance makes people look at it — a bright color, an unusual design, a striking headline. The thing that stands out is the subject; the person who notices takes の or は when mentioned at all.

赤(あか)い看板(かんばん)が目(め)を引(ひ)く。

The red sign catches your eye.

会場(かいじょう)で一番(いちばん)目(め)を引(ひ)いたのは彼女(かのじょ)の作品(さくひん)だった。

The piece that stood out most at the venue was hers.

棚(たな)に並(なら)んだ商品(しょうひん)の中(なか)で、そのパッケージだけが客(きゃく)の目(め)を引(ひ)いていた。

Among all the products on the shelf, only that package was catching customers' eyes.

Usage

Common in advertising and design talk: a display, headline, or outfit 目(め)を引(ひ)く when it succeeds in standing out. The judgment is neutral to positive; drawing unwanted stares is 目立(めだ)つ or 人目(ひとめ)を引(ひ)く instead.

Common collocations

人(ひと)の目(め)を引(ひ)く: to catch people's attention
目(め)を引(ひ)くデザイン: an eye-catching design
一際(ひときわ)目(め)を引(ひ)く: to stand out conspicuously

Similar words

目立(めだ)つ: to be conspicuous — a state, with no implication that anyone is drawn in
目(め)を奪(うば)う: to be captivating — much stronger, holding the viewer's gaze

Related Words

Compare: 目立(めだ)つ (to be conspicuous)

Compare: 目(め)を奪(うば)う (to be captivating)

Compare: 目(め)を奪(うば)われる (to be captivated by)

Compare: 目(め)につく (to catch one's eye, to stand out)

general

Added 2026.8.14 3:28 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

30500/30622_mewohiku