- 대놓다 = (from 대다 + 놓다) = say or do something unpleasant/critical openly in the face of someone. Similar to "nonchalantly", "without even batting an eye", etc. * 대다 = put something up against another for comparison, to be ready for use, etc. * 놓다 = helper verb to indicate a resulting completed or stable state of an action. 대다 has many meanings but here it indicates doing something openly in someone's face. People find it difficult to criticize or sneer at someone directly in front of the person. They usually suppress it and might say it later to their friends when the person is not around (i.e. they talk behind their back). 대놓고 하다 means having no such qualms and saying or doing it boldly/casually to someone's face as if it is nothing. e.g. 대놓고 사람에게 무안을 준다 = 면전에서 사람에게 무안을 주다 = Embarrass someone right in their face.