eyebrow-raising
Meaning
Causing surprise, shock, or disapproval; startling or unconventional.
Structure
Usage
The politician's eyebrow-raising comments dominated the news cycle for days.
The company reported an eyebrow-raising increase in profits despite the economic downturn.
His choice of attire for the formal event was certainly eyebrow-raising.
Etymology
The compound adjective 'eyebrow-raising' is a modern metaphorical formation, originating in the 20th century. It is built upon the literal action of raising one's eyebrows, a near-universal facial gesture signaling surprise, skepticism, or mild disapproval. The term logically combines the noun 'eyebrow', of Germanic origin, with the verbal action 'raising' to create a vivid image. This image then crystallizes into a fixed adjective describing anything that would provoke such an involuntary physical reaction, effectively bridging a concrete physiological response to an abstract quality of being surprising or shocking.
Analysis
- eyebrow: From Old English 'ēagebrū' (ēage "eye" + brū "eyebrow"). A compound noun referring to the arch of hair above the eye. - raising: From Old Norse 'reisa' (to cause to rise). The present participle/gerund of the verb 'raise', indicating the action of lifting or elevating.