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Certainty & Possibility - Unexpected

Explore English idioms that relate to the unexpected, including "turn up like a bad penny" and "out of thin air".

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English idioms related to Certainty & Possibility
damp squib

something that fails to be what everyone expected

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out of thin air

in a way that is sudden and often unreal

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to take the cake

to be the most surprising, outrageous, or absurd

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to throw somebody a curveball

to introduce a surprising or unexpected element or challenge into a situation

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(as) large as life

used to express a sense of astonishment or surprise when encountering someone or something

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to catch somebody napping

to surprise or outsmart someone who is not paying attention or is unprepared

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to catch somebody with one's hand in the cookie jar

to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong or inappropriate

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to catch somebody with one's pants down

to unexpectedly expose or confront someone in an embarrassing situation

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to drop a bombshell

to reveal unexpected and shocking news or information that has a strong impact on those who receive it

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pig in a poke

a thing that one accepts or buys without making sure if it is good enough to be worth it

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to pull a rabbit out of the hat

to solve a seemingly impossible problem or accomplish an extremely difficult goal unexpectedly

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the bubble burst

used to refer to the abrupt termination of a favorable or fortunate situation

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flash in the pan

someone who experiences temporary success or achievement but ultimately fails to maintain it in the long term

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to blow one's mind

to deeply astonish or amaze someone, often by presenting them with something unexpected or extraordinary

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beyond one's wildest dreams

used to mean that something that is significantly surpassing what an individual could have ever anticipated or hoped for

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glued to the spot

not capable of moving due to being shocked or frightened

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out of nowhere

in a sudden and unexpected manner, emphasizing the element of surprise

[Adverb]
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to not know what hit somebody

to become extremely shocked or confused as a result of something undesirable that suddenly happens

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to turn up like a bad penny

to reappear where one is not welcome or needed

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to hit somebody like a ton of bricks

to experience the sudden, surprising, and overwhelming impact of something, that catches someone off guard and leaves them feeling stunned or overwhelmed

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