catch your jaw

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catch your jaw" is not a standard expression in written English and may not be widely understood.
It could be used informally to suggest someone should close their mouth, often in response to surprise or shock. Example: "When she revealed the surprise party, I had to catch my jaw to keep from gasping in disbelief."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

So get ready to catch your jaw.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yeah we all laughed when that club photographer caught you gurning your jaw off, mate, but we don't need to see it 20 times in a row – especially not now: Ally's just been dumped.

Vice

Moreover, three specific questions (yes/no) of the RDC/TMD Axis II were considered for further TMD diagnosis [ 27, 28]: (1) Have you had pain in the face, jaw, temple, in front of the ear or in the ear in the past month?; (2) Have you ever had your jaw lock or catch so that it won't open all the way?; (3) Was this limitation in jaw opening severe enough to interfere with your ability to eat?

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

"Your jaw?

The New Yorker

Your jaw hangs open.

The New York Times - Books

Pick your jaw up yet?

The Guardian - Sport

So tall your jaw's gonna drop.

The New Yorker

"Talk about your jaw dropping," he said.

The New York Times

It could make your jaw drop".

The New York Times

Your jaw should be on the floor.

The Washington Post

Why is your jaw not dropping?

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "catch your jaw" sparingly and in informal contexts to emphasize surprise or disbelief. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "catch your jaw" in formal or professional writing. It is too informal and may be perceived as unprofessional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catch your jaw" functions as an idiomatic expression. It's used to describe a strong reaction of surprise or disbelief, implying that something is so shocking it causes one's jaw to drop. Ludwig provides limited examples, indicating it's not a very common expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

22%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the expression "catch your jaw" is an idiomatic way to describe a strong reaction of surprise or disbelief. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase isn't standard English and might need paraphrasing. While grammatically acceptable, it's best suited for informal contexts and should be avoided in professional or academic writing. Alternatives like "close your mouth in surprise" or "recover from astonishment" offer more formal options. Its rarity suggests it's not a frequently used expression, so use it judiciously for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close your mouth in surprise

Replaces the idiomatic "catch" with a more literal action, focusing on the physical response of surprise.

stop gaping

Directly addresses the open-mouthed reaction associated with shock or surprise.

shut your mouth

A more direct and potentially impolite way to tell someone to stop being surprised or shocked.

recover from astonishment

Emphasizes the process of returning to a normal state after being astonished.

collect yourself after a shock

Similar to 'compose yourself' but emphasizes gathering one's thoughts and emotions.

compose yourself after shock

Highlights regaining composure after experiencing a shocking event.

regain a normal expression

Focuses on the act of reverting to a neutral facial expression after being surprised.

mask your disbelief

Suggests concealing one's incredulity or skepticism.

hide your surprise

Indicates an attempt to conceal one's astonishment from others.

conceal your amazement

Implies a deliberate effort to not show how amazed one is.

FAQs

How can I use "catch your jaw" in a sentence?

You can use "catch your jaw" when someone says or does something incredibly surprising. For example: "When she revealed the plot twist, I had to catch my jaw to keep from gasping aloud."

What's a less colloquial alternative to "catch your jaw"?

For a more formal setting, consider using phrases like /s/"close+your+mouth+in+surprise" or /s/"recover+from+astonishment".

Is "catch your jaw" grammatically correct?

While not a standard phrase, "catch your jaw" is an idiomatic expression, making it acceptable in informal contexts. However, it's not suitable for formal writing.

When is it appropriate to use "catch your jaw"?

Use "catch your jaw" in informal conversations or lighthearted writing where you want to convey a strong sense of surprise or disbelief.