temptation; too good to resist; something one shouldn't see
Often used when seeing something desirable (food, goods, etc.) makes one want it, or when seeing something is bad for one's peace of mind. Frequently appears in phrases like 目の毒だ or 目の毒になる.
このケーキは目の毒だ。ダイエット中なのに。
This cake is too much of a temptation—I'm on a diet.
harmful to the eyes; bad for one's eyes
Literal meaning: something that damages or strains the eyes. Less common than the figurative sense, but still used, e.g., for bright lights or excessive screen time.
暗いところで本を読むのは目の毒だ。
Reading in the dark is bad for your eyes.
新作のゲームを見ると目の毒だから、お店には近づかない。
Seeing the new game is a temptation, so I stay away from the store.
Compound of 目 (eye) + の (possessive particle) + 毒 (poison). Literally 'poison to the eyes', it figuratively means something so tempting or harmful that seeing it is like poison.