see stars

English

see stars (third-person singular simple present sees stars, present participle seeing stars, simple past saw stars, past participle seen stars)

(idiomatic) To experience apparent flashing lights in one's field of vision, especially after receiving a blow to the head.
- 1868, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 43, in Little Women:
  Of course they bumped their heads smartly together, saw stars, and both came up flushed and laughing, without the ball, to resume their seats, wishing they had not left them.
- 1995 September 25, Michael Crichton, “Arts & Media: Excerpt from Jurassic Park: The Lost World”, in Time:
  Malcolm hit his head and fell to the floor, seeing stars.
- 2009 February 9, William C. Rhoden, “A Hall of Fame Linebacker Turns 50”, in New York Times, retrieved 26 September 2010:
  During his 13-year career as a game-changing NFL linebacker, Lawrence Taylor hit opponents so hard he often made them see stars.
(figurative) To be reeling immediately after a sudden misfortune analogous to a blow.

experience flashing lights