"Gotten an eyeful of" is a common phrase used to describe seeing something shocking or surprising. The word "gotten" is a variant of "got," which is a past participle of "get." Its pronunciation is written as /ˈɡɑːt̬ən/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The word "eyeful" is pronounced as /ˈaɪ.fʊl/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of this phrase may seem unusual to non-native English speakers, but it is an established colloquial expression in American English.
"Gotten an eyeful of" is an idiomatic expression derived from the phrase "to get an eyeful." It is commonly used in informal speech to signify the act of seeing or witnessing something significant, often unexpected, unusual, or visually striking. The word "gotten" is the past participle of "get," which implies the action of obtaining or receiving something. "Eyeful" refers to a visual experience or observation that captures one's attention, usually related to sight.
The expression suggests that someone has encountered a sight or experience that is noteworthy, intriguing, or captivating. It implies that the person's attention was fully engaged, perhaps due to the shocking, fascinating, or remarkable nature of what they have seen. "Gotten an eyeful of" is often used in a lighthearted or slightly humorous manner to convey the idea of being visually overwhelmed or surprised by what one has just witnessed.
For example, one could say, "I walked into that art gallery and got an eyeful of stunning paintings," indicating that the person was thoroughly impressed and visually struck by the artwork they encountered. Similarly, someone might exclaim, "I turned the corner and got an eyeful! There was a parade of vibrant costumes and music," expressing the surprise and excitement they experienced upon witnessing such a captivating sight. Overall, the phrase serves as an informal way to convey an impactful visual encounter or experience.