The phrase "when the moon hits your eye" comes from the famous song "That's Amore," written in 1953 and popularized by Dean Martin. It poetically describes the feeling of falling in love, using romantic and whimsical imagery. Specifically, "when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore" means that when you see the moon shining brightly (like a large, round pizza pie), it symbolizes the sudden realization or feeling of love (amore). The moon imagery is symbolic of romance and the phrase captures a magical, heartwarming moment of affection and connection.
There are also deeper symbolic interpretations: the "moon" represents mental perception and reflection, and the "big pizza pie" symbolizes goodness and love, as pizza's ingredients (bread, cheese, tomatoes) metaphorically represent love and nourishment coming from the heart. This transforms the experience of love into something mentally perceived and emotionally acted upon.
Additionally, "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" is also the title of a 2025 science fiction novel by John Scalzi, which imaginatively explores what might happen if the moon turned to cheese, as a playful and satirical premise.
In summary, the phrase most commonly refers to the romantic feeling of love sparked by the sight of the moon, as famously expressed in "That's Amore".
