her hair is dropping in/on/over her eyes

[diamondcutter]

She’s got really long hair and it’s dropping in her eyes! She can’t see.

Source: Kid’s Box 6, an English textbook for children, CUP

I can understand her hair is dropping in her eyes in this context. But I want to know if the preposition should be ‘on’ or ‘over’.

 

[Tarheel]

Hair doesn't get in your eyes. It might hang over your eyes.

A person could say "My hair is in my eyes" meaning it's blocking their vision, but it's hard to understand why a person would say that since they can just move it out of the way.

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, it's OK to say that your hair is getting in your eyes. That's the point at which you realise you really need a haircut!

 

[GoesStation]

In BrE, it's OK to say that your hair is getting in your eyes. That's the point at which you realise you really need a haircut!

It's natural in American English, too. But hair doesn't drop into your eyes unless you're on your back, eyes open, while someone drops bits of the stuff into them. Yuck!

 

[Skrej]

'In' would be my preferred choice as well, but I'm really bothered by 'dropping'. That sounds so wrong to my ear. I'd expect something like 'falling' or 'getting' or maybe even 'hanging', but not 'dropping'.

To me, 'dropping in' does sound like it's actually touching the eyeball, versus simply blocking your field of vision.

 

[GoesStation]

One natural way to say this is Her hair's hanging over her eyes.

 

[Morgan]

But the meaning changes, doesn't it?
I mean, her hair isn't always hanging over her eyes like blinds, it just gets in the eye like dust. Literally in the eye, that's why she can't see.

Not a teacher.

 

[Tarheel]

But the meaning changes, doesn't it?
I mean, her hair isn't always hanging over her eyes like blinds. It just gets in her eyes like dust. Literally in her eyes. That's why she can't see.

Not a teacher.

You can get a particle of dust in your eye. And you can get a hair in your eye, but not while it's still attached to your head.

 

[emsr2d2]

You can get a particle of dust in your eye. And you can get a hair in your eye, but not while it's still attached to your head.

Oh, trust me, people with long hair can certainly get hair actually touching their eyeball while the hair is still attached to the head. I have waist-length hair and a fringe that really needs trimming. I frequently find hair getting in my eyes and touching an eyeball. It's infuriating!

 

[jutfrank]

If kept unclipped, my eyebrows can sprout wayward hairs that curl down and poke me in the eye.

(Just thought I'd share!)

 

[emsr2d2]

If kept unclipped, my eyebrows can sprout wayward hairs that curl down and poke me in the eye.

(Just thought I'd share!)

That image can never be unseen!