raise my eyebrows

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   To move your eyebrows upward, usually to show surprise, doubt, or disapproval.

   Grammar: Use a possessive that matches the subject: I raised my eyebrows; he raised his eyebrows.

   Patterns

   • raise your eyebrows at something
   • raise your eyebrows in surprise

   I raised my eyebrows when I heard the price of the tickets.

   She raised her eyebrows at his strange excuse.

   He raised his eyebrows in surprise and then laughed.

2. 2phraseidiom

   To cause surprise or disapproval among people.

   Grammar: Often used as 'raise eyebrows' without a possessive when talking about other people's reactions.

   Patterns

   • something raises eyebrows
   • raise a few eyebrows

   The company's decision to close the factory raised eyebrows in the town.

   Her sudden change of job raised a few eyebrows among her friends.

   The new rules raised eyebrows, but most people accepted them.

Common combinations

raise your eyebrows at someone

She raised her eyebrows at me when I arrived late.

raise your eyebrows in surprise

He raised his eyebrows in surprise at the news.

raise a few eyebrows

The unusual design raised a few eyebrows at the meeting.

cause someone to raise their eyebrows

The high bill caused her to raise her eyebrows.

Synonyms and how they differ

lift your eyebrows

'Lift' is a close physical synonym, but 'raise your eyebrows' is the more common fixed phrase for showing surprise or doubt.

Opposites

Word family

eyebrow noun

The line of hair above the eye.

Commonly confused: raise my eyebrows or raise your eyes?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “raise my eyebrows”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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