under a spell
8
6.7
- idiom
:
bajo un hechizo
- I must have been under a spell.
- put under a spell
- fall under a spell
Examples
-
You're under a spell.
-
"I was under a spell," Netta said.
Fiction book (1993) -
Do you have everyone under a spell?
-
- But he has me under a spell.
-
Are you under a spell?
-
He had you under a spell.
-
The woman couldn't help looking again and again, as if under a spell.
Fiction book (1993) -
I'm under a spell.
Fiction book (1998) -
She's under a spell.
-
The audience was completely under a spell during the magician's performance.
Synonyms
60
7.1
A state when a person is not fully aware and cannot control their actions
20
4.2
Feeling very pleased and attracted by something, as if under a spell
7
5.2
So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening
1
5.3
Your attention is fixed as if under a spell
1
7.4
Under a magical spell and very attracted to someone or something
1
9.9
Under a magic spell that makes you do what someone wants
Unable to look away because something is very interesting
How Influenced
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'so fascinated or influenced...' is directly derivable from combining 'under' (in a state of or subject to) with 'spell' (an enchantment); the article 'a' is semantically light and does not block composition. The spatial/metaphorical use of 'under' + 'spell' to mean being enchanted or influenced is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would likely infer the idiomatic sense.
Etymology
The idiom under a spell comes from the image of a person caught by a magic spell, where a witch or magician makes them act as if they have no choice. So, saying someone is under a spell means they are 'so fascinated or influenced' that they cannot control their actions or feelings.