keep one's eyes peeled

English

US, 19th century. Peeled probably refers to keeping one's eyelids retracted.

(intransitive, idiomatic, (with "for")) To be on the alert, to be watchful.
- 1990, Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park:
  And directly below is our Mesozoic jungle river -- where, if you are lucky, you just may catch a glimpse of a very rare carnivore. Keep your eyes peeled, everyone!
- 2003 November 14, Laura Bly, “Sailing into the past”, in USA Today:
  lookouts posted to the port and starboard bows keep their eyes peeled for the ghostly outline of approaching traffic.

to be watchful

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