Lay eyes on

Had he seen her once? He debated that a moment. No. The habits of long service years had made him note and remember people. He knew that if ever he had laid eyes on her lovely face, he would never have forgotten.

I remember back in school / When I first laid my eyes on you / I saw your smile and knew right then and there

Does she regard him simply as a workman come to do a job for her, someone whom she need never lay eyes on again; or is she gabbling to hide discomfiture?

We can show the kids the tape and say, ‘Look, that's when we first laid eyes on each other.’