cold turkey
/kˈoʊld tˈɜːki/
phrase
in a manner that is sudden, unexpected, and not gradual
damp squib
/dˈæmp skwˈɪb/
phrase
something that fails to be what everyone expected
out of thin air
/ˌaʊɾəv θˈɪn ˈɛɹ/
phrase
in a way that is sudden and often unreal
to take the cake
/tˈeɪk ðə kˈeɪk/
phrase
to be the most surprising, outrageous, or absurd
to throw sb a curveball / curve
/θɹˈoʊ ˌɛsbˈiː ɐ kˈɜːvɪbˌɔːl kˈɜːv/
phrase
to introduce a surprising or unexpected element or challenge into a situation
(as) large as life
/æz lˈɑːɹdʒ æz lˈaɪf/
phrase
used to express a sense of astonishment or surprise when encountering someone or something
to catch sb napping
/kˈætʃ ˌɛsbˈiː nˈæpɪŋ/
phrase
to surprise or outsmart someone who is not paying attention or is unprepared
to catch sb on the hop
/kˈætʃ ˌɛsbˈiː ɑːnðə hˈɑːp/
phrase
to surprise someone by doing something when they are not ready or expecting it, making them feel confused or unable to react quickly
to catch sb with one's hand in the cookie jar
/kˈætʃ ˌɛsbˈiː wɪð wˈʌnz hˈænd ɪnðə kˈʊki dʒˈɑːɹ/
phrase
to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong or inappropriate
to catch sb with one's pants down
/kˈætʃ ˌɛsbˈiː wɪð wˈʌnz pˈænts dˈaʊn/
phrase
to unexpectedly expose or confront someone in an embarrassing situation
to drop / explode a bombshell
/dɹˈɑːp ɔːɹ ɛksplˈoʊd ɐ bˈɑːmʃɛl/
phrase
to reveal unexpected and shocking news or information that has a strong impact on those who receive it
pig in a poke
/pˈɪɡ ɪn ɐ pˈoʊk/
phrase
a thing that one accepts or buys without making sure if it is good enough to be worth it
to pull a rabbit out of the hat
/pˈʊl ɐ ɹˈæbɪt ˌaʊɾəv ðə hˈæt/
phrase
to solve a seemingly impossible problem or accomplish an extremely difficult goal unexpectedly
to catch / take sb unawares
/kˈætʃ ɔːɹ tˈeɪk ˌɛsbˈiː ˌʌnəwˈɛɹz/
phrase
to happen to someone without their prior knowledge or anticipation
the bubble burst
/ðə bˈʌbəl bˈɜːst/
sentence
used to refer to the abrupt termination of a favorable or fortunate situation
flash in the pan
/flˈæʃ ɪnðə pˈæn/
phrase
someone who experiences temporary success or achievement but ultimately fails to maintain it in the long term
to blow one's mind
/blˈoʊ wˈʌnz mˈaɪnd/
phrase
to deeply astonish or amaze someone, often by presenting them with something unexpected or extraordinary
beyond one's wildest dreams / fantasies
/bɪjˌɑːnd wˈʌnz wˈaɪldəst dɹˈiːmz fˈæntəsiz/
phrase
used to mean that something that is significantly surpassing what an individual could have ever anticipated or hoped for
glued / rooted to the spot
/ɡlˈuːd ɹˈuːɾᵻd tə ðə spˈɑːt/
phrase
not capable of moving due to being shocked or frightened
to not know what hit sb
/nˌɑːt nˈoʊ wˌʌt hˈɪt ˌɛsbˈiː/
phrase
to become extremely shocked or confused as a result of something undesirable that suddenly happens
to turn up like a bad penny
/tˈɜːn ˌʌp lˈaɪk ɐ bˈæd pˈɛni/
phrase
to reappear where one is not welcome or needed
to hit sb like a ton of bricks
/hˈɪt ˌɛsbˈiː lˈaɪk ɐ tˈʌn ʌv bɹˈɪks/
phrase
to experience the sudden, surprising, and overwhelming impact of something, that catches someone off guard and leaves them feeling stunned or overwhelmed
Langeek no picture

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