Having red or irritated eyes from broken blood vessels, often caused by tiredness, illness, or crying.
A compound of 'blood' and 'shot' (meaning streaked or marked), originating in the 1600s to describe eyes that appeared streaked with blood-red veins.
Your eyes get bloodshot because of how tiny blood vessels work—they dilate (expand) when you're tired or stressed, making them more visible through the thin skin around your eyes, so your eyes literally advertise how exhausted you are.
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