shock
noun /ʃɒk/
/ʃɑːk/
Idioms - [countable, usually singular, uncountable] a strong feeling of surprise as a result of something happening, especially something unpleasant; the event that causes this feeling
- I got a terrible shock the other day.
- When I added up the cost it gave me quite a shock.
- The news of my promotion came as a shock.
- The price came as something of a shock.
- in shock She stared at him in shock for a moment.
- He's still in a state of shock.
- (informal) If you think the job will be easy, you're in for a shock.
- shock of something The party has hardly recovered from the shock of its defeat in May.
- shock of doing something She still hadn't got over the shock of seeing him again.
- shock for somebody/something This must be quite a shock for you all.
- shock to somebody/something Her sudden death was a huge shock to the many people who knew her.
- Losing in the first round was a shock to the system (= it was more of a shock because it was not expected).
- The team suffered a shock defeat in the first round.
- Neighbours expressed shock at the news.
- He spoke of his shock at the attitude of the two men.
- Her shock at finding Elizabeth there was obvious.
- It was a shock to find an ambulance outside his house.
- It was a bit of a shock for audiences to see him in such a different role.
Extra Examples- Imagine my shock when I saw them kissing!
- She felt shock that he would be capable of such an act.
- She looked around in shock.
- I got the shock of my life when she told me she was pregnant.
- I nearly died of shock when your mother appeared.
- Drivers could be in for a nasty shock when they see the cost of renewing their insurance policies.
- Once the initial shock had worn off, I got to like my new hairstyle.
- She realized with a sudden shock that she was being followed.
- The scene was clearly added for shock value.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awful
- big
- considerable
- …
- come as
- feel
- get
- …
- tactics
- value
- jock
- …
- in shock
- with a shock
- shock at
- …
- a bit of a shock
- quite a shock
- something of a shock
- …
- [uncountable] a serious medical condition, usually the result of injury in which a person has lost a lot of blood and they are extremely weak
- Many passengers were treated for shock.
- She was taken to hospital suffering from shock.
- in shock Others seemed in shock, waiting to be told what to do next.
- He isn’t seriously injured but he is in a state of shock.
- He had gone into shock and was shaking violently.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deep
- severe
- mild
- …
- be in
- be suffering from
- suffer
- …
- [countable, uncountable] a violent shaking movement that is caused by an explosion, earthquake, etc.
- The shock of the explosion could be felt six miles away.
- The bumper absorbs shock on impact.
- (also electric shock)[countable] a sudden flow of electricity through a part of the body, causing pain and sometimes death
- Don't touch that wire or you'll get a shock.
- He gave himself a mild shock while changing a light bulb.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- massive
- severe
- mild
- …
- get
- receive
- give somebody
- …
- therapy
- [countable, usually singular] shock of hair a thick mass of hair on a person’s head
- She's a large plump woman with a shock of red hair.
surprise
medical
violent shaking
from electricity
of hair
Word Originnoun senses 1 to 4 mid 16th cent.: from French choc (noun), choquer (verb), of unknown origin. The original senses were ‘throw (troops) into confusion by charging at them’ and ‘an encounter between charging forces’, giving rise to the notion of ‘sudden violent blow or impact’. noun sense 5 mid 17th cent.: origin uncertain; compare with obsolete shough, denoting a breed of lapdog. The word originally denoted a dog with long shaggy hair, and was then used as an adjective meaning ‘unkempt, shaggy’. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.
Idioms
shock horror
- (British English, informal, often humorous) used when you pretend to be shocked by something that is not really very serious or surprising
- The article reports on a celebrity who—shock horror—has gained weight!