30 Idioms about Surprise in English

30 Idioms about Surprise in English

Hello English learners! Have you ever been so shocked that you nearly jumped out of your skin? Or maybe you heard some good news that completely knocked your socks off? English is full of colourful idioms to describe surprise, shock, and amazement. In today’s lesson, we’ll explore 30 idioms related to surprise, grouped into categories: pleasant surprises, shock or fright, and unexpected events. Each idiom comes with a meaning and two clear example sentences, so you can start using them in your speaking and writing straight away. 30 Idioms about Surprise in English

Pleasant or Impressive Surprises

Blow someone away

Meaning: to amaze or impress someone.

• The performance completely blew us away.
• His singing talent blew me away from the very first note.

Knock your socks off

Meaning: to greatly impress or astonish.

• Her cooking will knock your socks off.
• The film’s ending really knocked my socks off.

Take your breath away

Meaning: to amaze someone with beauty or wonder.

• The view from the mountain took my breath away.
• Her performance took everyone’s breath away.

Beyond one’s wildest dreams

Meaning: more surprising or better than expected.

• Winning the scholarship was beyond my wildest dreams.
• The success of the project was beyond his wildest dreams.

Leave someone open-mouthed

Meaning: to shock or amaze someone so much that they can’t hide their reaction.

• The acrobat’s stunt left us open-mouthed.
• His incredible memory left the audience open-mouthed.

30 Idioms about Surprise in English

Jaw-dropping moment

Meaning: a moment of great surprise or amazement.

• It was a jaw-dropping moment when she walked on stage.
• The special effects in the film were simply jaw-dropping.

 

Shock and fright

Jump out of your skin

Meaning: to be suddenly shocked or frightened.

• I nearly jumped out of my skin when the fire alarm rang.
• She jumped out of her skin when the dog barked loudly.

Take someone aback

Meaning: to surprise or shock someone.

• I was taken aback by his rude remark.
• She was taken aback when he proposed suddenly.

Knock someone sideways

Meaning: to shock or greatly surprise.

• The diagnosis knocked him sideways.
• She was knocked sideways by the news.

Knock someone for six

Meaning: to leave someone very shocked or upset (British English).

• The sudden loss knocked him for six.
• Her unexpected kindness knocked me for six.

Make your hair stand on end

Meaning: to frighten or shock strongly.

• The ghost story made my hair stand on end.
• His description of the storm made our hair stand on end.

Stop someone in their tracks

Meaning: to make someone suddenly stop because of shock or surprise.

• The accident stopped me in my tracks.
• Her beauty stopped him in his tracks.

30 Idioms about Surprise in English

Unexpected news and events

Out of the blue

Meaning: Something happens suddenly and without warning.

• She called me out of the blue after ten years.
• Out of the blue, it began to snow.

Like a bolt from the blue

Meaning: something sudden and unexpected.

• His resignation was like a bolt from the blue.
• The news came like a bolt from the blue.

Drop a bombshell

Meaning: to announce shocking or unexpected news.

• He dropped a bombshell by quitting his job.
• The company dropped a bombshell with the merger announcement.

Spring something on someone

Meaning: to surprise someone with unexpected news or action.

• Don’t spring new plans on me at the last minute!
• They sprang a surprise party on her after work.

Catch someone off guard

Meaning: to surprise someone who isn’t prepared.

• His question caught me off guard.
• The applause caught the speaker off guard.

Take by surprise

Meaning: to happen unexpectedly and shock someone.

• The storm took us by surprise.
• She was taken by surprise when he remembered her birthday.

Catch someone by surprise

Meaning: to shock or astonish unexpectedly.

• The ending of the book caught me by surprise.
• Their sudden visit caught us by surprise.

Do a double take

Meaning: to look again in surprise.

• I did a double take when I saw her new hairstyle.
• He did a double take at the strange sight.

30 Idioms about Surprise in English

Caught unawares

Meaning: to be surprised without warning.

• The sudden rainstorm caught us unawares.
• He was caught unawares by the teacher’s question.

Take someone unawares

Meaning: to surprise someone unexpectedly.

• His remark took me unawares.
• The storm took the sailors unawares.

You could have knocked me down with a feather

Meaning: used to express great surprise or astonishment.

• When she agreed, you could have knocked me down with a feather.
• I was so shocked—you could have knocked me down with a feather.

Raise eyebrows

Meaning: to cause surprise or mild shock.

• His outfit raised eyebrows at the office.
• The teacher’s comment raised a few eyebrows.

Beyond belief

Meaning: extremely surprising or shocking.

• His generosity was beyond belief.
• The speed of their success was beyond belief.

What a turn-up for the books

Meaning: an unexpected and surprising event.

• Their victory was a real turn-up for the books.
• It was a turn-up for the books when he showed up early.

Not believe your eyes/ears

Meaning: to be very surprised by what you see or hear.

• I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the price.
• She couldn’t believe her ears when he agreed.

Blow your mind

Meaning: to shock, amaze, or astonish.

• That film will blow your mind.
• The magician’s trick blew the children’s minds.

Astound someone

Meaning: to surprise or shock someone deeply.

• Her knowledge astounded the professor.
• I was astounded by his bravery.

30 Idioms about Surprise in English

Blow hot and cold

Meaning: to act in a surprising, inconsistent way.

• His behaviour blows hot and cold—it’s hard to predict.
• She keeps blowing hot and cold about the trip.

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