- British informal adjective meaning utterly astonished, speechless, or amazed.
- Implies being so surprised that your mouth hangs open (gob is UK slang for mouth).
Explanation
Origin
- Combination of gob (slang for mouth, possibly Celtic origin) and smack (to hit).
- The image is of being metaphorically smacked in the mouth, leaving you speechless with surprise.
- Emerged in the UK around the mid-20th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Floored (Meaning: Knocked over by surprise)
- Mind=blown (Online/Meme culture)
- Shook (Newer slang, esp. online) (Meaning: Visibly shaken by surprise/emotion)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fucking amazed / Fucking stunned
- Holy shit! / Holy fuck! (Exclamations of shock)
Milder/More Formal:
- Utterly astonished.
- Quite surprised.
- Left speechless.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Very common in the UK and increasingly understood elsewhere due to media.
- Fine in casual conversation among friends, family, colleagues.
- Avoid in very formal settings where astonished or surprised would be better.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The main risk is non-comprehension outside regions where it's common.
- Non-native speakers need to learn it's a strong expression of surprise, not related to physical violence despite smack.
Examples
- I was completely gobsmacked when she told me she was emigrating.
- He won the lottery? I bet he was gobsmacked!
- Look at the price of that! I'm gobsmacked!
Dialogue
Anna: Did you hear that David quit his job to become a professional clown?
Ben: What?! You're joking!
Anna: Nope, completely serious. He starts clown college next month.
Ben: I'm absolutely gobsmacked. I never would have guessed that in a million years! A clown!
Social Media Examples
- UK Tweet: Just saw the season finale of [Show Name]. Completely gobsmacked by that ending! 😮 #TVShow #Spoiler #Gobsmacked
- Facebook Post: Was gobsmacked to bump into my old school teacher on holiday in Spain! Small world!
- Instagram Comment: Your artwork is incredible! I'm honestly gobsmacked by your talent! ✨
Response Patterns
- Shared Amazement: I know! I couldn't believe it either! / Right?! It's incredible!
- Inquiry: Really? What happened? / Why, what's the price?
- Agreement: You can say that again.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- After hearing it: Asking for the details that caused such surprise (What surprised you?, Tell me more!).
- After saying it: Explaining the cause of the astonishment, shaking one's head in disbelief.
Conversation Starter
- Can be. You'll never guess what happened! I'm totally gobsmacked!
Intonation
- Expressed with wide-eyed amazement or disbelief.
- Emphasis usually on GOB. GOBsmacked.
Generation Differences
- Used and understood across most generations in the UK. Its slightly quirky nature keeps it popular.
Regional Variations
- Strongly associated with British English. Also used in Ireland, Australia, New Zealand.
- Becoming more recognized in North America but not commonly used natively.