raising your eyebrows

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   Moving the lines of hair above your eyes upward, often to show surprise, doubt, or mild disapproval.

   Grammar: A fixed -ing phrase; it works as a noun-like activity, so it can follow 'by', 'without', or 'enjoy'.

   Patterns

   • by raising your eyebrows
   • without raising your eyebrows
   • raising your eyebrows at someone

   He answered my question by raising his eyebrows, which told me he did not believe me.

   She kept raising her eyebrows while I spoke, so I knew she disagreed.

   Raising your eyebrows is a quick way to show surprise without saying a word.

2. 2phraseidiomfigurative

   Showing that you are surprised or shocked about something, especially in a way that suggests judgment.

   Grammar: Often used in the pattern 'something is worth raising your eyebrows at' or 'cause some eyebrow-raising'.

   Patterns

   • something is worth raising your eyebrows at
   • cause some eyebrow-raising

   The size of his bonus had people raising their eyebrows.

   The company's sudden change of plan is worth raising your eyebrows at.

Common combinations

raise your eyebrows in surprise

She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she heard the news.

raise your eyebrows at someone

He raised his eyebrows at me across the room.

without raising your eyebrows

He told the story without raising his eyebrows once.

cause some eyebrow-raising

The decision caused some eyebrow-raising among the staff.

a raised eyebrow

Her only reaction was a raised eyebrow.

Synonyms and how they differ

lifting your eyebrows

Very close in meaning, but 'lifting' often suggests a smaller, gentler movement than 'raising'.

arching your eyebrows

Suggests a curved, deliberate shape and is common when the look shows doubt or amusement.

Opposites

Word family

eyebrow noun

The line of hair above the eye.

raise verb

To move something to a higher position.

raised adjective

Lifted up, as in 'a raised eyebrow'.

Commonly confused: raising your eyebrows or raising your eyes?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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