A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

with one’s eyes closed • with one’s eyes open
with one’s eyes closed —(also: with one’s eyes shut) do smth.
very easily, without much effort: I could do her work with my
eyes closed.
with one’s eyes open — do smth. fully aware of the conse-
quences: I moved to this country with my eyes open; so I’m
not complaining.
See also: keep one’s eyes open / open someone’s eyes.
with one’s eyes wide open • with wide-open eyes
with one’s eyes wide open —
1
. stare in amazement or wonder:
He just stared and stared with his eyes wide open. So much
so, he kept missing his mouth with his spoon. 2. do smth. fully
aware of the consequences: He knows what he is doing and
he is doing it with his eyes wide open.
with wide-open eyes — = with one’s eyes wide open 
1
: I saw
him stare at me with wide-open eyes as I walked slowly up to
him holding out my revolver.
with reason • within reason
with reason —with good cause; justifiably: The police com-
plain, with reason, about wasting manpower in a hopeless
pursuit of speeders.
within reason —within reasonable limits: Seniors like Brett
were allowed, within reason, to decide their own working hours.
witness something • witness to something
witness something —
1
. see smth. happen: We witnessed the
meeting between the two great men. 2. observe an event in
order to give testimony on it if required: Will you witness his
signature on this deed? 3. give evidence of smth.; show smth.:
Her pale face witnessed the agitation she felt.
witness to something —
1
. give testimony (as in court) regard-
ing smth.: He witnessed to having seen the accused near the
scene of the crime. 2. prove or corroborate smth.: Partnerships
necessitate mutual praying and planning. They also witness
to the unity of the church in the world.