gobsmacked
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
As if smacked (“hit”) in the gob (“mouth (Irish / Scottish gaelic)”).
Attested since 1959, from Northern English dialect, particularly Liverpool, popularized via television.[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
gobsmacked (comparative more gobsmacked, superlative most gobsmacked)
- (chiefly British, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, slang) Flabbergasted, astounded, speechless, overawed.
- 1925 December, A Yorkshire Clod-Hopper, “From a Yorkshire Clod-Hopper”, in The Bee-keepers' Record[1], volumes 49-53, J. Herrod-Hempsall, retrieved 2018-06-08, page 175:
- That wad mack im about yam sick, so ower Ilkla' moor bar-tat wish un best of luck at Ilkley Station, and when he landed back Martha wad be fare gob smacked at the yarns he wad tell 'er about Yorkshire clod-hoppers.
- 1989 August 7, Glenn Frankel, “Salman Rushdie's Life on the Run”, in Los Angeles Times:
- We were as appalled and stunned and confused and gobsmacked (punched on the mouth) as anyone else.
- 2008 June 16, Caroline Mallan, “Linwood Barclay novel wins a plug on key UK book list”, in Toronto Star, Canada, page A2:
- "I guess the word would be gobsmacked," Barclay said, of his reaction. "I am stunned."
- 2023 August 10, Matthew Cantor, “‘Paul McCartney winked right at me’: the fans who buy nosebleed seats – and get whisked to the front”, in The Guardian, UK:
- Far from the stage, a woman approached them and said she could tell they were big fans, so she was upgrading them to the front row. “We were absolutely gobsmacked,” Ryan said.
Related terms[edit]
- gobsmacking
- gobstruck (much less common)
Translations[edit]
Flabbergasted, astounded, speechless, overawed
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