X-ray vision

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Meaning

Seeing through obstacles or facades with uncanny clarity.

Origin

From 20th-century America, tied to X-rays-discovered by Roentgen in 1895-revealing bones through flesh. By 1938, Superman's 'X-ray vision' in comics cemented it, slang by the 1940s for keen eyes. A 1950s ad uses it for a detective's hunch.

Variants

  • Ray vision

Usage Examples

  • She's got X; ray vision; spots lies a mile away.
  • With X; ray vision, he saw through the fake smile.
  • I need X; ray vision to find my keys in this mess!

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