- struck dumb
- If someone is struck dumb, they are unable to speak because they are so surprised, shocked or frightened by something.
The accused was struck dumb when the verdict was announced.
English Idioms & idiomatic expressions. 2014.
struck dumb
Look at other dictionaries:
dumb´ness — dumb «duhm», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. not able to speak: »dumb animals. Helen Keller learned to speak; she was blind and deaf but not dumb. 2. silenced for the moment by fear, surprise, shyness, or other emotion: »She was struck dumb with… … Useful english dictionary
dumb´ly — dumb «duhm», adjective, verb. –adj. 1. not able to speak: »dumb animals. Helen Keller learned to speak; she was blind and deaf but not dumb. 2. silenced for the moment by fear, surprise, shyness, or other emotion: »She was struck dumb with… … Useful english dictionary
dumb — I UK [dʌm] / US adjective Word forms dumb : adjective dumb comparative dumber superlative dumbest 1) informal stupid She s so dumb she can t even figure out her answering machine. You gave him your phone number? That was a dumb thing to do. 2) a) … English dictionary
dumb — dumb1 [ dʌm ] adjective * 1. ) INFORMAL stupid: She s so dumb she can t even figure out her answering machine. You gave him your phone number? That was a dumb thing to do. a ) play/act dumb to pretend to not know or understand something: Don t… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
dumb — adj. 1 unable to speak VERBS ▪ be ▪ become, be struck ▪ They were struck dumb with amazement. PREPOSITION ▪ with … Collocations dictionary
dumb — dumb1 S3 [dʌm] adj [: Old English;] 1.) informal stupid ▪ What a dumb question. ▪ a bunch of dumb kids ▪ What is it? I asked, playing dumb (=pretending to be stupid) . ▪ She s no dumb blonde (=a pretty woman with blonde hair who seems stupid) . 2 … Dictionary of contemporary English
dumb — adj. 1 a (of a person) unable to speak, usu. because of a congenital defect or deafness. b (of an animal) naturally unable to speak (our dumb friends). 2 silenced by surprise, shyness, etc. (struck dumb by this revelation). 3 taciturn or reticent … Useful english dictionary
dumb — [[t]dʌ̱m[/t]] dumber, dumbest 1) ADJ Someone who is dumb is completely unable to speak. ...a young deaf and dumb man. Syn: mute 2) ADJ: v link ADJ If someone is dumb on a particular occasion, they cannot speak because they are angry, shocked, or… … English dictionary
dumb — [[t]dʌm[/t]] adj. er, est, v. usage: dumb in the sense “lacking the power of speech” is offensive when applied to humans (but not animals), probably because the word also means “stupid; dull witted.” The noun dummy in the sense “a person who… … From formal English to slang
dumb — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German tumb mute Date: before 12th century 1. a. lacking the human power of speech < dumb animals > b. of a person, often offensive lacking the ability to speak 2.… … New Collegiate Dictionary
