Être médusé

Meaning: To be struck dumb with astonishment.

Literally: To be Medusa'd

Example: “Les spectateurs sont restés médusés devant le tour du magicien.” — The audience was left speechless by the magician's trick.

Origin: From Medusa, whose gaze turned onlookers to stone. French made a verb of the Gorgon and kept only the paralysis, dropping the horror.

More French idioms

Merde ! Good luck — said to a performer before going on stage.
Voilà pourquoi votre fille est muette Said of a grand explanation that explains nothing.
Passez, muscade ! Hey presto — said when something vanishes suspiciously conveniently.
Se croire le premier moutardier du pape To have a wildly inflated sense of one's own importance.
Mystère et boule de gomme Nobody has the faintest idea.
Promettre monts et merveilles To promise far more than could ever be delivered.

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

Épanouissement The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More t…
Ressourcement The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
Dépaysement The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…

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