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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damp squib [phrase]

something that fails to be what everyone expected

Ex: The new product launch was a damp squib as it failed to generate the expected excitement among customers .

out of thin air [phrase]

in a way that is sudden and often unreal

Ex: The artist 's creativity allows them to produce breathtaking paintings seemingly out of thin air .

to [take] the cake [phrase]

to be the most surprising, outrageous, or absurd

Ex: Her performance on the piano last night really takes the cake ; I 've never heard anything so beautiful .

to [throw] {sb} a (curveball|curve) [phrase]

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

Ex: She thought the job interview would be straightforward , but they threw her a curveball with a tricky problem-solving task .

(as|) large as life [phrase]

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

Ex: She found the rare and valuable artifact , just as described in the legend , as large as life .

to [catch] {sb} napping [phrase]

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

Ex:

to [catch] {sb} with {one's} [hand] in the cookie jar [phrase]

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

Ex:

to [catch] {sb} with {one's} pants down [phrase]

to unexpectedly expose or confront someone in an embarrassing situation

Ex:

to [drop|explode] a bombshell [phrase]

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

Ex: When he confessed to his involvement in the incident , he dropped a bombshell on his family , who had no idea he was connected to it .

pig in a poke [phrase]

something bought or accepted without being properly examined first and then leading to disappointment

Ex: Do n't accept job offers without researching the company ; you might end up with a pig in a poke .

to [pull] a rabbit out of the hat [phrase]

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

Ex: The chef had run out of key ingredients , but she managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat and create a delicious new dish .

the bubble [burst] [sentence]

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

Ex: Investors were elated with the stock market 's performance until the bubble burst , and they faced significant losses .

flash in the pan [phrase]

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

Ex: The entrepreneur 's business was a flash in the pan , as it went bankrupt shortly after a brief period of profitability .

to [blow] {one's} mind [phrase]

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

Ex: The complexity of the scientific discoveries in the documentary truly blew my mind and made me appreciate the wonders of the universe .

beyond {one's} wildest (dreams|fantasies) [phrase]

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

Ex: Receiving that job offer was beyond my wildest dreams , as I had been searching for a position like that for years .

(glued|rooted) to the spot [phrase]

not capable of moving due to being shocked or frightened

Ex: The unexpected news of her promotion left her rooted to the spot with joy and disbelief .

out of nowhere [adverb]

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

Ex: He came up with a brilliant idea out of nowhere during the meeting .

to {not} [know] what [hit] {sb} [phrase]

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

Ex: The sudden hailstorm was so intense that the picnic-goers did n't know what hit them .

to [turn] up like a bad penny [phrase]

to reappear where one is not welcome or needed

Ex: I thought I had finally gotten rid of that broken-down car , but it turned up like a bad penny in my driveway again .

to [hit] {sb} like a ton of bricks [phrase]

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

Ex: His breakup with his long-time girlfriend hit him like a ton of bricks , and he was devastated .

Certainty & Possibility
Certainty	Uncertainty	Unlikely Situations	Impossibility
Luck & Chance	Possibility	Likelihood	Expectations
Unexpected	Unbelievable	Definite or Unavoidable