before (one's) eyes

Right in front of one or while one is watching. Someone smashed into my parked car right before my eyes. Each day, before our eyes, we see signs of poverty and need. What the heck is she doing, flirting with my boyfriend right before my eyes?

COMMON If something surprising happens before your eyes or before your very eyes, it happens directly in front of you. With a loud crack, the stone statue collapsed before my eyes and crumbled to pieces. Marceline saw him falling apart before her very eyes and realized that something had to be done. Note: You can also say that something happens in front of your eyes. She saw her car driven off by two complete strangers in front of her eyes.