seeing things

Idioms

Experiencing hallucinations or delusions, as in I thought I saw my father, but I must have been seeing things; he died twenty years ago. [First half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Papa just stood there for a second looking at me, then he smiled and said, “Jay Berry, when a boy’s growing up, it’s all right for him to see things. I did myself, but you’re getting to be a pretty big boy now and I think it’s time you quit seeing things. Rowdy probably treed a squirrel.”

From Literature

When the last apple had disappeared, the big monkey did something that made me wonder if I wasn’t seeing things.

From Literature

“Aw, Daisy,” I said, “you’re always seeing things. I never saw any old man. Did you see anyone, Mama?”

From Literature

His mouth was dry and he blinked several times to make sure he was seeing things right.

From Literature

Worst of all, he couldn’t admit to seeing things.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023