private eye

noun

Slang.

1. a private detective.

private eye

noun

1. informal,  a private detective

Word History and Origins

Origin of private eye¹

1935–40; eye, allusive phonetic rendering of I, abbreviation of investigator

Idioms and Phrases

A privately employed detective, as opposed to one working for the police or another authority. For example, The children loved stories about private eyes, and Janey wanted to become one. This expression comes from the term private investigator, the “i” of investigator being changed to “eye,” which plays on the idea of a person looking into things. [1930s]

Example Sentences

The late, great Raymond Chandler and his private eye live on as potential IP for new books, video games, TV projects, graphic novels and more.

From Los Angeles Times

The article focused on Robert Winnett, the British journalist poised to take over The Post’s newsroom in November, and described his links to a private eye who used unethical media practices to land big exclusives.

From New York Times

What Bardo learned from a private eye, stalkers can now find with a click.

From Los Angeles Times

“The New York Trilogy,” which included “City of Glass,” “Ghosts” and “The Locked Room,” was a postmodern detective saga in which names and identities blur and one protagonist is a private eye named Paul Auster.

From Seattle Times

New investigations by the district attorney’s office and the former detective turned private eye, who worked pro bono, uncovered the actual killer and the events that took place on Sept. 2, 2000.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• P.I. 
• inquiry agent www.thesaurus.com
• private detective 
• private dick www.thesaurus.com
• private investigator 
• sleuth