Occasionally, you might be aware of someone declaring that they are floored. If you don’t know what this phrase means or where it may have come from - you’ve come to the perfect place. Here, we’ll be discussing what the phrase means, how it originated, and example usage. Let’s get straight to it!
What does the slang “floored” mean?
Describing yourself as being “floored” is like saying that you feel like you’ve been knocked to the floor by something you have seen or heard. This is something that’s said when you are shocked, stunned, or astonished. Especially if what you’ve just learned has left you overwhelmed or unable to think or speak.
Where does the slang term “floored” come from?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the idea of someone being “floored” dates back to at least the year 1830 or earlier, having often been used in slang to describe confusion, failure, or being at a loss for words. This figurative usage is likely to have derived from the literal idea of someone being struck so forcefully that they are knocked to the floor.
The figurative extension of this phrase lends itself to the idea of someone being struck with news or an accusation or revelation that left them feeling speechless, or unable to react or perhaps even unable to think clearly. In other words, experiencing an emotion in a way that’s comparable to a physical blow.
How people use the slang word “floored” - featuring whole sentence examples
As promised, here are some whole sentence examples of the phrase in use. Example usage should aid your understanding.
- He was totally floored by the unexpected news.
- I’m completely and utterly floored - I had no idea you could sing like that.
- I was floored when I held the numbers to the screen - we had won the lottery.
- She was floored when she discovered her secret admirer’s true identity.
- I was floored by her interview. I was so impressed. She’s the candidate we need.
- The surprise announcement had me floored - I was not expecting that at all!
Similar and synonymous terms
There are many similar and synonymous terms that can often be used in place of “floored”. Here are some examples:
- Shocked
- Stunned
- Startled
- Astonished
- Appalled
- Horrified
- Scared
- Knocked dead
- Knocked out
- Hit for six
- Amazed
- Dumbfounded
- Stupefied
- Astounded
- Awed
- Shook
- Flabbergastered
Final word
So, to sum up, the idiom about being floored by something dates back to the 19th century, specifically at least as far back as the year 1830. It is likely to have derived from the literal concept of being knocked to the floor by a physical blow or strike.
Simply put, being “floored” means being shocked, stunned, or astonished. Other synonyms include “awed”, “dumbstruck”, “left speechless” or “knocked for six”. It can have either positive or negative connotations, so you will have to pay attention to the context in which it’s being used in order to correctly interpret what is meant when it’s used.
