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/Sounds like "pahs" (as in "park") + "MAH" (as in "mark") + "doh" (as in "door")/

Meaning

To freeze up and stop reacting when something unexpected happens. In Spain it also describes someone who is generally slow or checked out, not just stunned by a surprise. Think deer in headlights, but sometimes just permanently spaced out.

Examples

He stood there completely frozen when they told him he had won the contest.

Don't just stand there staring, reply to the email before the deadline closes.

Word family

A person from Córdoba, Argentina, immediately recognizable by their distinctive singsong accent and the habit of adding "-ite" to words where no other Argentine would. Cordobeses have a reputation for being cheerful, talkative, and intensely proud of their city.