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shock

Definition

  • noun: a sudden usually unpleasant or upsetting feeling caused by something unexpected
  • noun: a pile of sheaves of grain or stalks of Indian corn set up in a field with the butt ends down
  • verb: to surprise and usually upset (someone)
  • verb: to collect into 'shocks'
  • verb: to strike with surprise, terror, horror, or disgust
  • usually singular
  • synonyms: ac arc, poulsen arc, abscess

Examples

  • I don't think there's anything wrong with using 'shock tactics' [=actions, images, stories, etc., that surprise and upset people] to discourage people from driving while drunk.

  • We 'were shocked into' silence by what we saw. [=we were so surprised and upset by what we saw that we could not say anything]

  • He got the 'shock of his life' [=he was very unpleasantly surprised] when he saw his own name on the list.

Movie quotes

  • (..) did you just fucking say? Why do you think he never gets busted? Costello's a protected FBI informant. He'll trade you out. I thought I was supposed to go into shock. I'm not in shock. It fucking hurts! It fucking hurts! Hey. It's me. - What are you doing here? - Come here. (..)
    2006 The Departed