shock-horror

British

adjective

facetious (esp of newspaper headlines) sensationalistic

shock-horror stories about the British diet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shock-horror

C20: _shock ¹ + _horror

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“There is the risk that if names leak out after a time it becomes a great shock-horror,” he said, adding that it would be better to make a virtue of transparency.

From New York Times

As for the shock-horror on both the Sandersian left and the Trumpian right about her reported aspiration for a “hemispheric common market” with “open trade and open borders,” however — it’s wrongheaded and hyped.

From Washington Post

Even so, he doesn't regret the shock-horror headlines, and isn't worried that they might have put people off jogging.

From BBC

The shock-horror acquittal of Rebekah Brooks was not a huge surprise to those who have been in court for the past few months.

From The Guardian

It's children's worst fears made real - the ballet's not about pantomime shock-horror effects.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023