raise eyebrows

English

raised eyebrows

Pronunciation

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Verb

raise eyebrows (third-person singular simple present raises eyebrows, present participle raising eyebrows, simple past and past participle raised eyebrows)

1. (idiomatic) To cause surprise.
2. (idiomatic) To cause mild disapproval.
   • 2022 July 27, Tamara Hardingham-Gill, “New Croatia bridge redraws map of Adriatic coast”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     The fact that a Chinese state-owned company was awarded the contract to build the structure also raised eyebrows.

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see raise,‎ eyebrows.

Related terms

• eyebrow-raising
• raise one's eyebrows

Translations

Translations

• German: verwunderte Blicke hervorrufen (literally “to cause bewildered glances”)
• Maori: pewa, whakanana, rewha
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