目めを剥むく

め

を

む

く

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ku)

Used when someone's eyes widen dramatically due to strong emotion such as anger, surprise, or shock. Often implies a sudden, intense reaction.

彼かれは怒おこって目めを剥むいた。
He opened his eyes wide in anger.
その値ね段だんを聞きいて、彼かの女じょは目めを

むい

た

。

She goggled when she heard the price.

Written forms

目めを剥むく
Standard kanji spelling; 剥く means 'to peel' or 'to open wide'.
目めをむく
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji 剥 is less familiar.
目めを剝むく
Variant kanji form using 剝 (kyūjitai of 剥); rarely used in modern Japanese.

Kanji

目eye, class, look
剥come off, peel, fade
剝come off, peel, fade

Similar words

目めを見み開ひらく
目を見開く is a more neutral, physical description of opening one's eyes wide, while 目を剥く carries a stronger emotional charge (anger, shock).
目めを丸まるくする
目を丸くする is used specifically for surprise or wonder, with a softer nuance than 目を剥く, which can imply anger or intense shock.

Etymology

The expression combines 目 (eye) with 剥く (to peel, to open wide). The verb 剥く originally means 'to peel off', and here it figuratively describes the action of opening the eyes so wide that the eyelids seem to peel back. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is a vivid, idiomatic expression for an intense emotional reaction.