Meaning & use
bat those lashes
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiominformal
to open and close your eyes quickly and repeatedly, especially to attract someone or to look innocent.
Grammar: Used with a possessive word like my, your, his, her, our, their, or those: bat your lashes, bat those lashes.
Patterns
- bat your lashes
- bat those lashes
- bat your eyelashes
She batted those lashes at the waiter and got us a free dessert.
Stop batting your lashes at me; I know you broke the vase.
He stood there batting his lashes, pretending he hadn't heard a thing.
Word forms
| third person singular | bats those lashes |
|---|---|
| past tense | batted those lashes |
| past participle | batted those lashes |
| -ing form | batting those lashes |
Common combinations
- bat your eyelashes
- She batted her eyelashes and asked for a favor.
- bat your lashes at someone
- He batted his lashes at the teacher to get extra time.
- flutter your lashes
- She fluttered her lashes and smiled sweetly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- flutter your eyelashes
- Very similar, but flutter suggests a lighter, quicker movement; bat is more deliberate and often flirty.
Commonly confused: bat those lashes or bat your eyes?
bat those lashes vs bat your eyes
Not a common phrase. The usual expression is bat your lashes or eyelashes.
Practice
Complete the sentence: She batted her ______ at the photographer and smiled.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'bat your lashes' (or 'eyelashes'). 'Eyes' is not used in this expression, and 'hands' and 'shoulders' do not fit the meaning of fluttering the eyelids.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bat those lashes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.