[General] awe-struck = struck with awe

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

When Germany's young squad takes to the pitch against Argentina on Saturday in Cape Town, they will be forgiven if they're a bit awe-struck.

awe-struck = struck with awe

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

vil said:

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

When Germany's young squad takes to the pitch against Argentina on Saturday in Cape Town, they will be forgiven if they're a bit awe-struck.

awe-struck = struck with awe

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

Click to expand...

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Vil.

(1) I went to a very good (and old) dictionary and learned

something that I had never known:

"awestruck" (I think Americans prefer no hyphen) is the

past participle of a verb that no one uses any more:

awestrike. (As you said: to strike with awe.) Today most dictionaries

call "awestruck" an adjective.

(2) Thanks for helping me to learn more English today!!!

Hi Vil,
It's not quite that they are struck with awe, but that they feel a bit of hero worship and are excited -- and a bit amazed --- to be on the same field (pitch?) as this respected team.

If I am truly struck with awe, I am probably unable to move, my mouth is gaping open, and I am looking around in absolute wonder.

If I am awestruck, I'm really, really excited and maybe a bit surprised to find myself somewhere, or with someone, that I have always admired.