Word of the Day: GOBSMACKED

Don't be surprised

gobsmacked (adj) - struck silent by surprise, shock, or wonder; astounded or astonished [gob-smakt]

• a gobstopper, also known as a jawbreaker, is a large, round hard candy that takes a long time to dissolve completely in one’s mouth

BREAKDOWN: A gob in British slang is a mouth, so this relatively new word (traced back to the mid-20th century) is meant to evoke a feeling of shock or surprise akin to being smacked in the mouth.

“This month was, in my professional opinion as a climate scientist—absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.” –Zeke Hausfather

[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not derived from classical roots.]