Contextualizebeta

gobsmacked

adj
/ˈɡɒb.smækt/UK

Etymology

As if smacked (“hit”) in the gob (“mouth (Irish / Scottish gaelic)”). Attested since 1959, from Northern English dialect, particularly Liverpool, popularized via television.

  1. derived from dialect
  2. derived from / Scottish gaelic)”)

Definitions

  1. Flabbergasted, astounded, speechless, overawed.

    • 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.
    • We were as appalled and stunned and confused and gobsmacked (punched on the mouth) as anyone else.
    • "I guess the word would be gobsmacked," Barclay said, of his reaction. "I am stunned."

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for gobsmacked. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA