gobsmacked etymology

Etymology:

• Gob: A colloquial term for the mouth or a large mouthful.
• Smack: A hard blow or impact.

Meaning:

Gobsmacked means to be utterly astonished, shocked, or amazed. It implies a sense of being so stunned that one is unable to speak or react.

Origin:

The exact origin of "gobsmacked" is uncertain, but it is believed to have evolved from the following influences:

• Cockney slang: The term "gob" was used in Cockney slang to refer to the mouth.
• British fighting jargon: The term "smack" was used to describe a hard punch or blow.
• Combining the two: Combining "gob" and "smack" suggested a blow or impact that could literally "knock someone's jaw into their mouth." This figurative expression eventually evolved into "gobsmacked" to describe a state of extreme shock or surprise.

The first recorded use of "gobsmacked" in print is believed to be in a 1922 play by Ben Travers. Since then, it has become a widely used term in British English, and has also spread to other English-speaking countries.

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