# without batting an eye

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/without-batting-an-eye
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Showing no emotional reaction.

## Examples

- He lost his keys but stayed calm without batting an eye.
- The professional athlete missed the final shot, but he walked off the court without batting an eye.
- Despite the sudden announcement of the company's bankruptcy, the veteran director accepted the news without batting an eye, as if he had anticipated the collapse all along.

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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.