flabbergasted me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flabbergasted me" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing surprise or astonishment that someone has experienced. Example: "The unexpected news flabbergasted me, leaving me speechless for a moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Sara Errani completely flabbergasted me this year," said Lindsay Davenport, who was hardly alone.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"He looked flabbergasted," Smothers told me.

The New Yorker

This sort of question always leaves me flabbergasted.

The New York Times - Books

The west coast left me flabbergasted once again by the magnificence of the scenery.

The Guardian - Travel

"He looked at me flabbergasted, like I was some kind of idiot, and said: 'Yeah, no, we have to get rid of the nipple.' He probably tells women they have cancer and that something needs to be cut off twenty times day, but still, he could have said more than just 'the nipple has to go.' I was only thirty-nine athehe time".

Vice

"He looked at me flabbergasted, like I was some kind of idiot, and said: 'Yeah, no, we have to get rid of the nipple.' He probably tells women they have cancer and that something needs to be cut off 20 times day, but still, he could have said more than just 'the nipple has to go'.

Vice

"I was flabbergasted when he chose me, because I'm just a kid," said Matthew, the youngest of six brothers, all of whom served as altar boys in the parish.

The New York Times

I was just flabbergasted when he wanted me to come and sing with him.

Huffington Post

"Like a lot of people, after the election, I was flabbergasted and devastated," he told me this week, over the phone.

The New Yorker

"When Mike told me, I was flabbergasted," said McLaren, who still had his right arm in a sling three days after rotator cuff surgery.

The New York Times - Sports

"I think the 15-year-old me would be excited and flabbergasted," Ms. Perry said, "and also say, 'Put on some clothes.' ".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flabbergasted me" to express a strong sense of surprise or astonishment, particularly when someone's actions or news have left you momentarily speechless. Consider the context and ensure that the intensity of the word aligns with the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "flabbergasted me" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can diminish its impact and make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your vocabulary by using alternatives like "astonished me" or "amazed me".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flabbergasted me" functions as a verb phrase where "flabbergasted" is the verb in the past tense and "me" is the object. It expresses a strong feeling of surprise or astonishment experienced by the speaker. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correct usage in expressing personal surprise.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "flabbergasted me" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey a strong feeling of surprise or astonishment. As Ludwig AI points out, the usage in the single example found in Ludwig is correct. While infrequent in general writing, it's primarily found in news and media contexts. If you want to express surprise, consider using alternatives like "astonished me" or "amazed me" to add variety to your writing. Use this phrase thoughtfully and avoid overuse to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astonished me

Replaces "flabbergasted" with a more common synonym, maintaining the same subject and object.

amazed me

Similar to "astonished me", this alternative employs a different verb to convey strong surprise.

stunned me

Indicates a stronger, more shocking surprise than "flabbergasted", implying a temporary loss of composure.

surprised me greatly

Adds emphasis to the surprise, making it clear the extent of the feeling.

left me speechless

Focuses on the inability to speak due to surprise, rather than the feeling itself.

took me by surprise

Shifts the focus to the unexpected nature of the event, rather than the intensity of the feeling.

left me in awe

Conveys a sense of wonder and respect in addition to surprise.

shocked me

Implies a more negative or disturbing surprise.

blew me away

An informal expression signifying extreme amazement or impressiveness.

caught me off guard

Highlights the unexpected nature of the situation that led to the surprise.

FAQs

What does "flabbergasted me" mean?

"Flabbergasted me" means that someone or something has greatly surprised or astonished you, often to the point of being momentarily speechless or bewildered.

What can I say instead of "flabbergasted me"?

You can use alternatives such as "astonished me", "amazed me", or "stunned me" depending on the context and the degree of surprise you want to convey.

Is "flabbergasted me" formal or informal?

"Flabbergasted me" is generally considered a somewhat formal or elevated way of expressing surprise. In more casual settings, phrases like "blew me away" or "surprised me greatly" might be more appropriate.

How to use "flabbergasted me" in a sentence?

You can use "flabbergasted me" in a sentence like: "Her sudden announcement that she was moving to another country completely flabbergasted me." The subject's action causes a feeling of shock and amazement in you.