In English idioms, the expression "Argus eyed" describes a person who is what?

Introduction / Context:
Idioms and phrases in English often come from mythology or old stories and have very specific meanings that are not obvious from the individual words. The idiom Argus eyed is one such expression, used to describe a particular kind of person. This question tests your knowledge of this idiom's meaning, which appears frequently in competitive examinations and vocabulary lists.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The phrase is Argus eyed, with a hyphen sometimes used in dictionaries.
• We are asked about the type of person it describes, not a literal creature.
• The options give different personality traits, only one of which matches the idiom.
• We assume the classical mythology origin of the expression is known or can be inferred.

Concept / Approach:
The idiom Argus eyed comes from Greek mythology. Argus Panoptes was a giant with many eyes, often said to have a hundred eyes, who served as a watchful guardian. Because of this story, the expression Argus eyed came to mean extremely watchful, alert, and observant, as if having many eyes always open. It does not refer to pretending, flattering, or being quick tempered. Therefore, when someone is described as Argus eyed in modern English, it means they notice everything and keep a very careful watch.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall or deduce that Argus eyed is linked to the many eyed guard Argus from Greek mythology. Step 2: Understand that having many eyes symbolises constant watchfulness and the ability to see in all directions. Step 3: Examine the options and look for the one that expresses watchfulness or strong powers of observation. Step 4: Option D, very observant and watchful, directly states this meaning and therefore matches the idiom. Step 5: Eliminate options describing pretence, flattery, or bad temper, which have no connection to being many eyed or watchful.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the meaning by imagining how the phrase is used in a sentence: The Argus eyed inspector noticed every small mistake in the accounts. Here, Argus eyed clearly implies alertness and careful observation, not anger or flattery. Similarly, a teacher described as Argus eyed in the exam hall is one who sees every attempt to cheat. Dictionary entries for Argus eyed confirm that it means vigilant or extremely observant.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A pretence: This is wrong because pretence refers to acting or pretending, not to keen observation or watchfulness.
A flatterer who praises others insincerely: This is wrong because such a person is called a sycophant or flatterer, not Argus eyed. Flattery has nothing to do with many eyes.
Short tempered and easily angered: This is wrong because bad temper is about emotional reaction, not about how carefully someone watches or observes.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to guess based on the sound of the phrase rather than its origin. Students might associate eyed with jealousy or flattery. Another pitfall is to confuse Argus eyed with eagle eyed, which also means very observant. Both idioms, however, share the same idea of sharp vision and watchfulness, so if you remember eagle eyed as meaning watchful, you can transfer that understanding to Argus eyed as well. Learning the mythological background helps fix the meaning in memory.

Final Answer:
The idiom Argus eyed describes someone who is Very observant and watchful.