Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having eyes that are wide open in surprise, amazement, or astonishment: Describes a person whose eyes are opened very wide, often with a fixed or staring expression, due to shock, wonder, or intense curiosity.

Usage

The adjective "goggle-eyed" is used to describe someone's appearance, specifically their facial expression when they are extremely surprised or amazed. It is typically used before a noun (attributively) or after a linking verb (predicatively). It often carries a slightly informal or vivid tone.

Examples

• Attributive (before a noun):

  • The goggle-eyed tourists stared at the towering skyscraper.
  • He listened to the outrageous story with a goggle-eyed expression.

• Predicative (after a linking verb):

  • The children were goggle-eyed when they saw the magician pull a rabbit from his hat.
  • She stood goggle-eyed at the entrance to the ancient palace.

Advanced Usage

• "to stare goggle-eyed": To look at something with eyes wide open in amazement.
  • The audience stared goggle-eyed as the acrobat performed the dangerous stunt.

Variants and Related Words

• Goggle (verb): To look with wide, staring eyes, often because of surprise.
  • They goggled at the price tag in disbelief.

Synonyms

• Wide-eyed: Having the eyes wide open, especially in amazement or innocence.
• Agape: With the mouth wide open in surprise or wonder (can imply a similar astonished expression).
• Astonished: Filled with sudden and great wonder or surprise (describes the feeling rather than the specific facial expression).

Idioms and Phrases

• To be (all) goggle-eyed: To be in a state of open-mouthed astonishment.
  • The fans were all goggle-eyed when the celebrity walked into the room.

Adjective

1. with eyes or mouth open in surprise