1. (of a person or a person's mind) be astonished or overwhelmed when trying to imagine something: informal"the mind boggles at the spectacle"Similarmarvelwonderbe astonishedbe astoundedbe amazedbe filled with amazementbe overwhelmedbe shockedbe staggeredbe bowled overbe startledgapegogglegawkinformal:be flabbergasted
▪ cause (a person or a person's mind) to be astonished or overwhelmed: informal"the inflated salary of a CEO boggles the mind"Similarastonishastoundamazefill with amazementoverwhelmshockstartlefill with wonderinformal:flabbergastbowl over
▪ (of a person) hesitate or be anxious at:informal"you never boggle at plain speaking"Similardemurjibshrink fromflinch fromrecoil fromhang back fromwaverfalterditherbalkvacillate aboutthink twice aboutbe reluctant abouthave scruples aboutscruple abouthave misgivings abouthave qualms aboutbe chary ofhesitate tobe shy aboutbe coy aboutshy away frominformal:be cagey aboutshilly-shally
Word Originlate 16th century: probably of dialect origin and related to bogle and bogey2.
