# have one's wig snatched

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/have-ones-wig-snatched
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be shocked or stunned.

## Examples

- I had my wig snatched when I saw the final price.
- The plot twist in the movie was so unexpected that I truly had my wig snatched.
- Upon witnessing the sheer brilliance of the performance, the entire audience sat in stunned silence, having collectively had their wigs snatched.

## Origin

The expression arises from a jocular image of a person experiencing a level of shock so profound that their wig falls away from the head. The underlying suggestion is one of total physical and composure-based disarray following a surprising event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.