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

38 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

14 7.5

Having big eyes that stick out and look surprised

describes round wide openness without necessarily protruding

round-eyed

vssaucer-eyed

2 4.8

Having large, open eyes that show surprise or childlike wonder

leans more toward surprise or strong amazement

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

goggly

vssaucer-eyed

Informal

1 8.1

Having very large eyes that look surprised

focuses on round open shape rather than sticking out

popeyed

vssaucer-eyed

1 8.6

Having very wide eyes because you are surprised

is more about round openness than strong bulging

ox-eyed

vssaucer-eyed

1 9.6

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

focuses on open surprised look rather than animal resemblance

begoggled

vssaucer-eyed

Archaic

1 9.6

Having wide, staring eyes that show surprise

is about open round wonder more than pronounced protrusion

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

Antonyms

unimpressed

19 4.0

Not thinking something is good or interesting

How Surprised

dumbfounded

20 4.6

astonished

55 2.7

saucer-eyed

1 7.2

surprised

∞ 1.0

calm

680 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'.