English Reference
Idiom idiom

knock someone over with a feather


To greatly surprise or astonish someone.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“You could have knocked me over with a feather when I won.”

CONTEXTUAL

“When he announced he was moving to another country, you could have knocked me over with a feather.”

COMPLEX

“The news was so entirely unexpected that, had you tried to knock me over with a feather, I would have fallen instantly.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  2. 02

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  3. 03

    birds of a feather

    People having similar characters, backgrounds, interests, or beliefs.

  4. 04

    birds of a feather flock together

    People of similar character, background or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another; it is easier to establish friendships with people that one has a lot in common with.

  5. 05

    bless someone with

    To give or bestow, as a gift from God.

  6. 06

    bring someone to their knees

    To defeat and make submit to orders.

  7. 07

    call someone every name in the book

    To call someone many abusive names.

  8. 08

    call someone everything but a child of God

    To call someone many abusive names.

Last updated August 10, 2026