bat an eyelid



bat an eyelid

To display a subtle emotional reaction, such as consternation, annoyance, sadness, joy, etc. Generally used in the negative to denote that the person in question did not display even a hint of an emotional response. Mary didn't even bat an eyelid when I told her I was moving out. That guy is dangerous. I heard he killed a man without batting an eyelid.
See also: bat, eyelid

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Artemis['a:timis]
Radka-Czech, Bulgarian
Fearchar-Irish, Scottish
NguyÊN-Vietnamese
Lyudmil-Bulgarian, Medieval Slavic
Branimira-Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian