"Be poleaxed" is an idiomatic expression which means to be completely and utterly surprised or shocked. There are several synonyms for this term such as stunned, amazed, flabbergasted, dumbfounded, astonished, thunderstruck, bewildered, nonplussed, and taken aback. Each of these synonyms has a slightly different connotation, but they all convey the sense of being completely caught off guard by the unexpected. For instance, "stunned" can describe a reaction to sudden news or an unexpected event, while "flabbergasted" can be used to describe a more extreme reaction to something truly shocking. Whatever the word choice, being poleaxed is a feeling that everyone has experienced at some point in life.