skipped a beat
Pulse momentarily stopped
Skipped a beat describes a heart's momentary flutter or pause, usually from sudden strong emotion—surprise, fear, or romantic excitement: My heart skipped a beat when I saw her across the room.
The phrase captures that physical jolt of feeling, whether from delight or dread.
Sometimes used for any brief falter: The engine skipped a beat.
- missedFailed to reach
- flutterRapid light movement
- heart flutterIrregular heartbeat sensation
- pulseArterial blood throb
- palpitationIrregular heartbeat awareness
racing heart · stopped · jump · heartbeat · arrhythmia · gasp · rush · pound · startle · thrill · gulp · freeze · fight or flight · shock · tachycardia · shiver · hitched · suspense
emotional response intensity
skipped a beatunmoved
Not stirred physically/emotionally
stayed calm · unaffected · unfazed · shrugged off · emotionally flat
skip, skipped, skipping, skips, skipper, beat, beats, beaten, beating