saucer-eyed

1 7.2

Having very large round eyes that show surprise

adjective
/ˈsɔːsər aɪd/

: ojos de plato

She had saucer-eyed amazement when she saw the fireworks.

Examples

She was saucer-eyed as she listened to the incredible story.
The cartoon character's saucer-eyed expression made everyone laugh.
The child looked up at me with saucer-eyed astonishment.
The child looked saucer-eyed at the magician's tricks.
The child stood with saucer-eyed wonder as the magician performed his tricks.
She looked saucer-eyed at the decorations, amazed by their beauty and intricacy.
His saucer-eyed expression revealed his shock when he received the unexpected gift.

Synonyms

wide-eyed

vssaucer-eyed

27 3.4

A person who has eyes open wide because they feel surprised or full of wonder

emphasizes stronger amazement rather than gentle wonder

bug-eye

vssaucer-eyed

4 7.5

Having big eyes that stick out and look surprised

describes round wide openness without necessarily protruding

goggle-eyed

vssaucer-eyed

1 7.6

Having eyes wide open because you feel surprised or amazed

is less about physical bulging and more about round openness

round-eyed

vssaucer-eyed

1 4.8

Having large, open eyes that show surprise or childlike wonder

leans more toward surprise or strong amazement

goggly

vssaucer-eyed

Informal

1 8.1

Having very large eyes that look surprised

focuses on round open shape rather than sticking out

begoggled

vssaucer-eyed

Archaic

9.6

Having wide, staring eyes that show surprise

is about open round wonder more than pronounced protrusion

popeyed

vssaucer-eyed

8.6

Having very wide eyes because you are surprised

is more about round openness than strong bulging

agaze

vssaucer-eyed

Archaic

9.9

Having eyes wide open and fixed, often from fear or wonder

relates to shape and surprise rather than a fixed stare

ox-eyed

vssaucer-eyed

9.6

A face with large, round eyes that look gentle or surprised

focuses on open surprised look rather than animal resemblance

Antonyms

unimpressed

14 4.0

Not thinking something is good or interesting

How Surprised

dumbfounded

7 4.6

astonished

21 2.7

saucer-eyed

1 7.2

surprised

357 1.0

calm

735 1.0

Surface Forms

saucer-eyed positive

Morphology

saucer-eyed = saucer + eye (transparent) = saucer + eye + ed

The adjective is a straightforward compound meaning 'having eyes like saucers'; learners who know 'saucer' and 'eye' can derive the meaning.

Etymology

The word saucer-eyed compares a person's eyes to a saucer, a small round plate, and the -eyed part points to the eyes. This gives the image of 'large, round' and wide-open eyes, so it describes someone who looks 'surprised' or 'amazed'.