Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Gobsmacked (Adjective)

Quick summary: An informal UK word meaning completely shocked, surprised, or speechless.

What does it mean?

To be gobsmacked means to be so surprised or shocked that you are speechless. Gob is UK slang for mouth.

Is it positive or negative?

It can be positive or negative, depending on the shock.

When do you use it?

Use it in everyday conversation when the situation matches the meaning.

Examples

Example 1: I was absolutely gobsmacked when she told me she was moving to Australia tomorrow.

Question for you

Have you heard or used 'gobsmacked' in real conversation?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online? You'll be gobsmacked at how much your confidence improves! I offer online English lessons using Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom. My English speaking lessons help you master natural vocabulary and expressions directly from a British native speaker. If you want to study English with a British native speaker online, you can find out more about lessons here. For another useful word, see chuffed.