awe
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awe inspiring
Creating, instilling, or demanding a sensation of reverence, admiration, or (potentially) fear. Her writing is absolutely awe inspiring—it stirs emotions in me I didn't think were possible. The destructive power of nature is truly awe inspiring. Grant's determination to be in top shape again after his Achilles injury is pretty awe inspiring.
See also: awe
be in awe (of someone or something)
To have an overwhelming amount of respect or admiration for someone or something, sometimes to the point of feeling nervous or fearful around them or it. Everyone was in awe of the movie star as he came through our small town on his vacation. I've always been in awe of people who dedicate their lives to something like the military. I was in awe as the massive machines soared across the sky overhead.
be in awe of (someone or something)
To have a great amount of respect or admiration for someone, sometimes to the point of feeling nervous or fearful around them. Everyone in town was in awe of the movie star as he came through on his vacation. I've always been in awe of people who dedicate their lives to something like the military. I was in awe of the massive machines as they soared across the sky overhead.
in awe (of someone or something)
Having a great amount of respect or admiration for someone, sometimes to the point of feeling nervous or fearful around them. Everyone in town was in awe of the movie star as he came through on his vacation. I've always been in awe of people who dedicate their lives to something like the military. I was in awe as the massive machines soared across the sky overhead.
shock and awe
The use of shocking, impressive, or intimidating tactics in order to achieve a certain reaction from others. Sometimes hyphenated. It is by no means unusual for political candidates to use shock and awe in their ads to smear or discredit their opponents. The government's shock-and-awe campaign about the dangers of drunk driving was controversial, but it has reduced the number of roadside deaths by nearly 15%.
stand in awe (of someone or something)
To have an overwhelming amount of respect or admiration for someone or something, sometimes to the point of feeling nervous or fearful around them or it. Everyone stood in awe of the movie star as he came through our small town on his vacation. I've always been in awe of people who dedicate their lives to something like the military. I simply stood in awe as the massive machines soared across the sky overhead.
stand in awe of (someone or something)
To have a great amount of respect or admiration for someone, sometimes to the point of feeling nervous or fearful around them. Everyone in town stood in awe of the movie star as he came through on his vacation. I've always stood in awe of people who dedicate their lives to something like the military.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
in awe (of someone or something)
fearful and respectful of someone or something. Everyone in the country was in awe of the king and queen. I love my new car. In fact, I'm in awe of it.
See also: awe
stand in awe (of someone or something)
Fig. to be overwhelmed with respect for someone or something. Many people stand in awe of the president. Bob says he stands in awe of a big juicy steak. I think he's exaggerating.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
in awe of, be
Also, stand in awe of. Respect and revere someone or something, experience a feeling of solemn wonder, as in All of us are in awe of his many achievements. This expression dates from about a.d. 1000 and originally meant "fear something or someone." Later awe came to mean "dread mingled with respect," and eventually it signified reverence alone.
See also: awe
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
shock and awe
a name given to a US military strategy, developed in the 1990s, that relies on rapidly deployed overwhelming force to cow an enemy.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
be/stand in ˈawe of somebody/something
admire somebody/something and be slightly afraid of them/it: While Diana was in awe of her grandfather, she adored her grandmother.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017