English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
SURPRISE - ASTONISHMENT - DISBELIEF, page 1
Idioms
from:
'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.
- 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 bombshell when 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.
- 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 skin when 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 off everyone 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:
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.