English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Surprise, Astonishment and Disbelief-1
from: '(it) beggars belief'
to: 'knock down with a feather'
- (it) beggars belief
- If something beggars belief (“beggar” here is a verb), it is so strange,
surprising or extreme that it is impossible to believe or make sense of.
"What they claim to have discovered beggars belief."
- If something beggars belief (“beggar” here is a verb), it is so strange,
surprising or extreme that it is impossible to believe or make sense of.
- (a) bolt from the blue
- To refer to something as a bolt from the blue means that it happened totally unexpectedly
and was a complete surprise.
"The chairman's resignation came as a bolt from the blue."
- To refer to something as a bolt from the blue means that it happened totally unexpectedly
and was a complete surprise.
- (be) at a loss for words
- If you are at a loss for words, you are so stunned, surprised or moved by something that you are temporarily
unable to speak or find adequate words for the situation.
"She was so surprised to receive the award that she found herself at a loss for words."
- If you are at a loss for words, you are so stunned, surprised or moved by something that you are temporarily
unable to speak or find adequate words for the situation.
- out of the blue
- If something happens out of the blue, it happens unexpectedly and causes a surprise.
"I had nearly given up hope when out of the blue I was offered a job"
- If something happens out of the blue, it happens unexpectedly and causes a surprise.
- catch (someone) off guard
- When you catch someone off guard, you surprise them by doing something they do not expect
and that makes them feel confused or uncertain.
"You caught me off guard! I was just having a rest before going back to work!”
"The offer of early retirement caught me off guard. I had no idea it was coming!"
- When you catch someone off guard, you surprise them by doing something they do not expect
and that makes them feel confused or uncertain.
- caught unawares
- If someone is caught unawares, they are surprised and unprepared for what happens.
"The security guard moved so silently that the thief was caught unawares."
- If someone is caught unawares, they are surprised and unprepared for what happens.
- credibility gap
- The extent of disbelief, of the difference between what you are asked to believe and what you are able to believe, is called a
credibility gap
"The growing credibility gap may lead to a serious loss of votes in the next elections."
- The extent of disbelief, of the difference between what you are asked to believe and what you are able to believe, is called a
credibility gap
- do a double take
- Someone who does a double take looks again in surprise at something unexpected.
"He did a double take when he saw his wife in a restaurant with another man."
- Someone who does a double take looks again in surprise at something unexpected.
- drop a bombshell
- If you drop a bombshell, you make an unexpected announcement which will greatly change a situation.
"The chairman dropped a bombshellwhen he announced the merger with the company's biggest rival."
- If you drop a bombshell, you make an unexpected announcement which will greatly change a situation.
- eyes on stalks
- If your eyes are on stalks when you look at something, they are wide open with surprise or amazement.
"The child's eyes were on stalks as he watched the magician's performance."
- If your eyes are on stalks when you look at something, they are wide open with surprise or amazement.
- (your) jaw drops
- If someone's jaw drops, they show total amazement.
"When the prize was announced, the winner's jaw dropped."
- If someone's jaw drops, they show total amazement.
- it's a small world
- People use this expression to show surprise when, for example, unexpectedly meeting someone they know in an unusual place, or discovering that they have a friend
or acquaintance in common, etc.
"My new colleague is your brother’s girlfriend? Wow, it’s a small world!"
- People use this expression to show surprise when, for example, unexpectedly meeting someone they know in an unusual place, or discovering that they have a friend
or acquaintance in common, etc.
- jump out of one's skin
- If you jump out of your skin, you are extremely surprised or shocked.
"Jane nearly jumped out of her skinwhen the horse put its head through the kitchen window!"
- If you jump out of your skin, you are extremely surprised or shocked.
- knock your socks off
- If something amazes you, or impresses you greatly, it knocks your socks off.
"The magnitude of the project will knock the socks offeveryone in the office."
- If something amazes you, or impresses you greatly, it knocks your socks off.
- knock down with a feather
- To say 'you could have knocked me down with a feather' emphasizes the fact that you were extremely surprised.
"When I heard the name of the winner, you could have knocked me down with a feather!"
- To say 'you could have knocked me down with a feather' emphasizes the fact that you were extremely surprised.
Alphabetical lists: