Make someone's jaw drop 🖐️😮

Meaning

To shock or surprise someone greatly.

Origin

Imagine a silent movie, played at triple speed. That feeling of stunned disbelief? It's captured perfectly by the visual of a jaw literally falling open in astonishment. This phrase conjures that exaggerated, almost comical, physical reaction to something so unexpected or incredible that it momentarily incapacitates the observer. It's a vivid, if slightly hyperbolic, way to describe the impact of truly remarkable news, sights, or events. Think of a magician pulling off an impossible trick or a sudden, unbelievable announcement – the immediate, involuntary response is a facial expression of pure, unadulterated shock.

😮 surprise 🏃‍♀️⚕️ body 🗣️ communication

Make someone's jaw drop represented with emoji🖐️😮

This playful juxtaposition of a hand reaching out and a surprised face 🖐️😮 teaches the viewer the delightful power of astonishment, not just the literal meaning, but the sheer, unadulterated wonder of having one's jaw dropped by the unexpected.

Examples

  • The magician's final trick was so incredible it made everyone's jaw drop.
  • When she told them she'd won the lottery, it made their jaws drop.
  • The squirrel, balancing a tiny hat on its head, rode a unicycle past the window to make the cat's jaw drop.
  • The dragon offered the knight a cup of tea and asked about his day, which really made the knight's jaw drop.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'make someone's jaw drop' a formal or informal expression?

'Make someone's jaw drop' is an informal expression. It's typically used in casual conversation or writing to convey a strong sense of surprise or astonishment.

Can 'make someone's jaw drop' be used literally?

While the phrase is a vivid idiom, it can occasionally be used literally to describe a physical reaction to extreme shock. However, it's most often an exaggeration to emphasize the degree of surprise.

What's the opposite of 'make someone's jaw drop'?

The opposite of 'making someone's jaw drop' would be an action or event that causes indifference or a lack of surprise, such as something utterly predictable or mundane.

Are there any similar idioms to 'make someone's jaw drop'?

Yes, similar idioms include 'knock someone's socks off,' 'take someone's breath away,' or 'leave someone speechless,' all of which denote a strong reaction of surprise or amazement.

Similar to "make someone's jaw drop"

Knock someone's socks off
Both phrases capture a moment of profound astonishment, but 'knock someone's socks off' feels more like a positive, energetic outburst of admiration, while 'make someone's jaw drop' often implies a more stunned, almost dumbfounded reaction
Leave someone speechless
These phrases both describe an overwhelming impact, but 'leave someone speechless' emphasizes the inability to articulate a response, whereas 'make someone's jaw drop' highlights the physical manifestation of shock
Astonish the natives
Both phrases conjure images of incredible surprise, but 'astonish the natives' has a slightly dramatic, almost theatrical flair, often used humorously to describe something that shocks a familiar group, whereas 'make someone's jaw drop' is more direct and universal

Opposite of "make someone's jaw drop"

Play it cool
This phrase argues for maintaining composure in the face of the extraordinary, directly opposing the uncontrolled astonishment of a dropped jaw by championing an unruffled, even indifferent demeanor
Underwhelm someone
Where 'make someone's jaw drop' is about exceeding all expectations, 'underwhelm someone' is about failing to meet even the lowest ones, suggesting a deliberate effort to bore or disappoint rather than shock

Related to "make someone's jaw drop"

A sight for sore eyes
This phrase shares the intensity of a strong reaction, but shifts from shock to profound relief or pleasure, often describing something long-awaited or intensely desired
Mind-blowing
This adjective directly describes the *cause* of a dropped jaw, focusing on the quality of the experience itself—the sheer impressiveness or strangeness—that leads to the physical reaction
Stop someone in their tracks
This phrase captures the immediate, immobilizing effect of a shocking event, suggesting a sudden halt to all activity, much like the frozen posture implied by a dropped jaw
An "I can't believe it" moment
This phrase encapsulates the internal thought process accompanying a dropped jaw, articulating the disbelief and incredulity that fuels the physical expression of astonishment