not bat an eyelid

bat an eyelid

To display a subtle emotional reaction, such as consternation, annoyance, sadness, joy, etc. Generally used in the negative to denote that the person in question did not display even a hint of an emotional response. Mary didn't even bat an eyelid when I told her I was moving out. That guy is dangerous. I heard he killed a man without batting an eyelid.
See also: bat, eyelid

not bat an eyelid

To not display even a hint of an emotional response, such as consternation, annoyance, sadness, joy, etc. Mary didn't even bat an eyelid when I told her I was moving out. That guy is dangerous. I heard he killed a man without batting an eyelid.
See also: bat, eyelid, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not bat an eyelid

 and not bat an eye
Fig. to show no signs of distress even when something bad happens or something shocking is said. Sam didn't bat an eyelid when the mechanic told him how much the car repairs would cost. The pain of the broken arm must have hurt Sally terribly, but she did not bat an eyelid.
See also: bat, eyelid, not
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

not bat an eyelid

or

not bat an eyelash

mainly BRITISH
COMMON If someone does not bat an eyelid or does not bat an eyelash when something happens, they do not appear at all shocked or surprised by it. Even when told that a room in the hotel cost £235 per night, he didn't bat an eyelid. I thought Sarah would be embarrassed but she didn't bat an eyelid. This place could have burned to the ground, and he wouldn't have batted an eyelash. Note: You can also say that someone does something without batting an eyelid or without batting an eyelash. Mum would cater for a hundred people without batting an eyelid. Note: The usual American expression is not bat an eye.
See also: bat, eyelid, not
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

not bat an eyelid (or eye)

show no emotional or other reaction. informal
Bat in this sense is perhaps a dialect and US variant of the verb bate meaning ‘lower or let down’. The variant not blink an eye is also found.
1997 James Ryan Dismantling Mr Doyle She did not bat an eyelid when Eve spelled out the unorthodox details of the accommodation they required.
See also: bat, eyelid, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

not bat an ˈeyelid

(British English) (American English not bat an ˈeye) (informal) not seem surprised, worried, afraid, etc: She didn’t bat an eyelid when they told her she’d lost her job. She just calmly walked out.
See also: bat, eyelid, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • bat an eye
  • bat an eyelash
  • bat an eyelid
  • eyelid
  • not bat an eyelash
  • not bat an eye
  • What was (one) smoking?
  • screw up (one's) face
  • geez
  • geeze
References in periodicals archive
Proponents of this idea should not bat an eyelid when another rogue governor decides to relocate Kano Government House to the climax of Dala Hill, believed to be the first settlement in Kano where Barbushe offered deific service to the pagan clan in the 7th Century.
Ganduje's Pointless 'Pentarchy'
Guys would spend $800 on a three-piece suit and not bat an eyelid.
He suits they score; Declan ensures all-conquering Dubs are dressed to impress; EXCLUSIVE
class="MsoNormalAlthough some may not bat an eyelid while at it, many employees find seeking a pay rise uncomfortable, even in cases where it may be justifiable.
ASK HR: Do you have a fool-proof strategy I could use to get a pay rise?
The N-word is rightly muted in every rap record you hear on radio and we do not bat an eyelid.
Why F-word shouldn't mean Fairytale of New York ban
In his autobiography of 2000, John wrote: "If the public address man announced John Dawes was missing through injury, the crowd would not bat an eyelid. In the dressing room, however, there would be a mood of panic because we knew just how important his presence was to the way we played."
The grandson of a Welsh rugby legend who's just joined his grandfather's iconic club as they fight back from oblivion; He is reminding supporters of how it used to be
Political parties and their leaders do not bat an eyelid before doing the same.
Lynching: Who Will Bell The Cat?
NNA - MP Ammar Houry said in an interview with the Voice of Lebanon 100.3-100.5 radio station that "the pact is preserved by the presence of two-thirds of the cabinet, and everything else is nothing but populist speech reflecting a real crisis experienced by the FPM." "When Change and Reform bloc Head, General Michel Aoun was Prime Minister and all Muslim ministers resigned from his government he did not bat an eyelid about the pact," he reminded, stressing that the presence of two-thirds of the cabinet members is the real guarantee for the work of the government.
Houry: Pact is preserved with twothirds cabinet
Benitez will not bat an eyelid before signing an Englishman, an Argentine or a Ghanaian this summer if they will improve his Magpies squad.
Why it's likely to be Spain in the main as Rafa casts transfer net; THE AGENDA: Why Newcastle United boss trusts the Spanish market
He will not bat an eyelid doing likewise in the Championship.
Rafa knows what to say and when to say it - a real boss
She does not bat an eyelid as she tells of one woma in the area whose arm was chopped off with a machete by a violent partner.
The struggle to empower women; DAY 2: CHARITIES TACKLING BRUTAL REALITIES OF SLUM LIFE; Finding hope amid the horror of a city built on inequalities
They, I can assure you, would not bat an eyelid if Nita had shared a picture of a mutt sporting a wimple or clerical dog-collar.
Bonkers! Nita was sacked for 'liking' a bad joke; THE MERCURY'S HARD-HITTING COLUMNIST SPEAKS HIS MIND..
Newcastle United may have surprised a few when handing unsettled defender Fabricio Coloccini a new deal last summer but those who know Steve McClaren well did not bat an eyelid.
Steve McClaren has always been big on experience but will Newcastle relax their under-26 transfer policy? Newcastle head coach once paid big money for a 30-year-old Gareth Southgate and recalled England veteran David Beckham and is big on experience; Newcastle head coach once paid big money for a 30-year-old Gareth Southgate and recalled England veteran David Beckham and is big on experience
And for many reasons: first, the attitude of the (French) government which does not bat an eyelid when one of our finest transportation and logistics companies now operates under the American flag.
Balkan business booms
"Mr Bhatti does not bat an eyelid at this terminology.
Jihadist back from the dead to plot terror acts in UK; He was believed to be killed - but was training for terror
Fearless folk at Anchor's Tolson Grange Care Home in Dalton did not bat an eyelid when their lounge was overrun with snakes, lizards, rats and cockroaches thanks to a special event by staff from the animal care department at Kirklees College.
Residents celebrate National Pet Month