English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Surprise, Astonishment and Disbelief-1
from: 'a bolt from the blue'
to: 'knock down with a feather'
- (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.
- 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.
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