knock someone over with a feather

Meaning: (idiomatic,informal,hyperbolic)Used to express that one isgreatlysurprised.1838February 17, “Review of Books.Hood’s Own. No. 1.Baily.”, inThe Idler, and Breakfast-table Companion; a New and Fashionable Weekly Journal of Literature, Fine Arts, Music, Amusement, Exhibitions, Varieties, Satire, and the Stage, volume II, numbers7 (nos. 50 and 51), London: Published for the proprietor by George Denney, at the office, 7,Tavistock Street,Covent Garden,→OCLC,page50, column 2:She hardly, she said, believed her own senses. You might haveknocked her down with a feather. She did not know whether she stood on her head or her heels.1977, Joe Ashby Porter, chapter 50, inEelgrass(A New Directions Book[New Directions Paperbook];[438]), New York, N.Y.:New Directions Publishing,→ISBN,pages102–103:"I thought you might see what she's up to if she is up to something, and I'm pretty sure she is." / "You couldknock me over with a feather," Jane said. "Well! Yes, it does sound as though she's up to something I'd be inclined to say. But you can't be sure with an odd one like Sue. Might be a touch of harmless craziness."1990November 27, Laurel Bowie, quoting Ossie Martins, “That’s just ducky!: Artist exposed as a QUACK!”, inWeekly World News, number18259, New York, N.Y.:American Media, Inc.,→ISSN,→OCLC,page24:Fat cat art collectors shelled out thousands of dollars for works by a popular new painter named DaVinci, and hoity-toity critics called him the king of the canvas – till the world learned that DaVinci is a duck![…]"And when all those snooty people found out they'd been bamboozled by a bird, you could haveknocked them over with a feather."2016May 8, Simon Thomas, “Bevan blows the whistle for full time on officiating career”, inWales on Sunday‎[1]:Reflecting on being told he was to referee the 1991 World Cup final, the former flanker [Derek Bevan] told Radio Wales, "I couldn't believe it. They talk aboutknocking you over with a feather, I was in a dream for the rest of the day.[…]"

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