watchful

(redirected from watchfulness)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia.

keep a watchful eye (on someone or something)

To observe or monitor someone or something very closely. You've got to keep a watchful eye on those kids—they love getting into trouble! The success of this product is our company's last chance, so I've been keeping a watchful eye on the sales figures. The police have said they will be keeping a watchful eye to ensure the street party does not get out of hand.

under the (watchful) eye of

Under the careful protection, care, or surveillance of (someone). They were supposed to be under the watchful eye of the teachers during the field trip, but two of the students managed to slip away undetected and went missing in the nearby woods. One had to be extremely careful what one said publicly back in those days, as we were all under the eye of the Soviet Union.