without batting an eye

Idioms

Showing no emotion, acting as though nothing were unusual. For example, Richard ate the snails without batting an eye. A related phrase is not bat an eye, as in He didn't bat an eye when she told him he was being laid off. These expressions, which use bat in the sense of “blink,” date from about 1900.

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.

What could I do that I could do without batting an eye?

From Slate • Jul. 31, 2021

They snapped to attention without batting an eye, when a whistle ordered them to.

From The Guardian • Jan. 12, 2021

The brands are not only for people who can afford to buy a $5,000 bespoke suit without batting an eye, but includes purveyors of cheese, tea, books and grooming products.

From New York Times • May 9, 2018

And yet the distaff version of these words relating to women’s health and contraception are written every day without batting an eye.

From Washington Times • Aug. 19, 2015

“They’re having a sale,” my mom says without batting an eye, “on ground beef.”

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

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