English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Surprise, Astonishment and Disbelief-2
from: 'lo and behold'
to: 'words fail me'
- lo and behold!
- The term 'lo and behold' is used to express surprise, especially at a sudden or unexpected appearance.
"I was watering the flowers when, lo and behold, there was the watch I'd lost"
- The term 'lo and behold' is used to express surprise, especially at a sudden or unexpected appearance.
- (a) nine-day wonder
- An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest, surprise or excitement for a short time, but it doesn't last.
"His sudden departure was a nine-day wonder but he was soon forgotten."
- An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest, surprise or excitement for a short time, but it doesn't last.
- raise eyebrows
- Someone who raises their eyebrows at something shows surprise or disapproval by the expression on their face.
"When the boss arrived in jeans, there were a lot of raised eyebrows"
- Someone who raises their eyebrows at something shows surprise or disapproval by the expression on their face.
- rooted to the spot
- If you are so shocked, surprised or scared that you are rooted to the spot, your reaction is so strong that you are unable to move.
"Joe stood rooted to the spot as the plane landed on the water."
- If you are so shocked, surprised or scared that you are rooted to the spot, your reaction is so strong that you are unable to move.
- seeing is believing
- The expression 'seeing is believing' means that when you actually see something that seems incredible you can be sure it exists, or that
what you have been told is really true.
"Mark says bananas grow in his garden, but seeing is believing!"
- The expression 'seeing is believing' means that when you actually see something that seems incredible you can be sure it exists, or that
what you have been told is really true.
- stop dead in tracks
- If you stop dead in your tracks, you stop suddenly because you are totally surprised or frightened.
"When Steve saw the snake, he stopped dead in his tracks."
- If you stop dead in your tracks, you stop suddenly because you are totally surprised or frightened.
- struck dumb
- If someone is struck dumb, they are unable to speak because they are so surprised, shocked or frightened by something.
"The accused man was struck dumb when the verdict was announced"
- If someone is struck dumb, they are unable to speak because they are so surprised, shocked or frightened by something.
- taken unawares
- If something takes you unawares, it surprises you because you were not expecting it.
"The driver's angry reaction took me unawares."
- If something takes you unawares, it surprises you because you were not expecting it.
- there's no accounting for taste
- This expression is used to indicate surprise at another person's likes or dislikes.
"She fell in love with a guy who's short, fat, bald and poor ... there's no accounting for taste!"
- This expression is used to indicate surprise at another person's likes or dislikes.
- wonders will never cease
- The expression 'wonders will never cease' is used to express pleasure or surprise at something.
"The price of petrol has dropped! Wonders will never cease!"
- The expression 'wonders will never cease' is used to express pleasure or surprise at something.
- words fail me
- The expression 'words fail me' is often used when someone is so shocked, surprised or touched by something that
they don't know what to say.
"What do you think of Bob's attitude?" "Words fail me!"
- The expression 'words fail me' is often used when someone is so shocked, surprised or touched by something that
they don't know what to say.
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