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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
damp squib
[phrase]

something that fails to be what everyone expected

Ex: The highly anticipated movie turned out to be a damp squib, with poor reviews and low box office earnings. 
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out of thin air

in a way that is sudden and often unreal

Ex: She came up with that brilliant business idea out of thin air during our brainstorming session. 
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to [take] the cake

to be the most surprising, outrageous, or absurd

Ex: All of the reviews were bad, but hers took the cake. 
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to [throw] {sb} a (curveball|curve)

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

Ex: The reporter threw the candidate a curve by asking about his past drug use. 
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(as|) large as life

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

Ex: When I walked into the room, there was my childhood friend, as large as life, standing in the crowd. 
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to [catch] {sb} napping

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

Ex: The clever student caught the teacher napping and managed to sneak out of class unnoticed. 
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to [catch] {sb} with {one's} [hand] in the cookie jar

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

Ex: A lot of people had their hands in the cookie jar at the company. 
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to [catch] {sb} with {one's} pants down

to unexpectedly expose or confront someone in an embarrassing situation

Ex: I caught my roommate with his pants down when he was trying to sneak out without doing his chores. 
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to [drop|explode] a bombshell

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

Ex: She dropped a bombshell when she announced that she was resigning from her job to start her own business. 
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pig in a poke

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

Ex: I bought that used car without a proper inspection, and it turned out to be a pig in a poke. 
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to [pull] a rabbit out of (a|the) hat

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

Ex: The team faced a seemingly impossible deadline, but they managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat and finish the project ahead of schedule. 
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the bubble [burst]

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

Ex: For years the company seemed unstoppable, but then the bubble burst. 
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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

Ex: He was a flash in the pan in the music industry, with one hit song that quickly faded into obscurity. 
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to [blow] {one's} mind

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

Ex: The beauty of the night sky in the desert truly blew my mind; I'd never seen so many stars before. 
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beyond {one's} wildest (dreams|fantasies)

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

Ex: Winning the lottery was beyond my wildest dreams; I never thought I'd be so lucky. 
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(glued|rooted) to the spot

not capable of moving due to being shocked or frightened

Ex: When I saw the ghostly figure in the abandoned house, I was glued to the spot, unable to run or scream. 
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out of nowhere

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

Ex: A deer darted out of nowhere and caused the car to swerve off the road. 
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to {not} [know] what [hit] {sb}

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

Ex: A sinfully attractive man who knows what he wants, Rafael seduces Cherri before she knows what hits her. 
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to [turn] up like a bad penny

to reappear where one is not welcome or needed

Ex: I try to avoid Jessica, but wherever I go she turns up like a bad penny! 
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out of the blue

suddenly and unexpectedly

Ex: The invitation to the party came out of the blue, and I couldn't believe my luck. 
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to [come] out of left field

to happen or be said unexpectedly in a way that surprises people

Ex: The question came out of left field. 
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to [hang] in the air

to remain unspoken, tense, or noticeable in a situation

Ex: The question hung in the air after the meeting ended. 
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to [be] caught off guard

to be surprised and unprepared

Ex: She was caught off guard by the question. 
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to [be] caught with {one's} guard down

to be caught unprepared or vulnerable

Ex: He was caught with his guard down by the sudden question. 
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to [catch] {sb} flat-footed

to surprise someone before they are ready or prepared

Ex: The sudden question caught him flat-footed. 
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to [hit] {sb} 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

Ex: The news of her accident hit me like a ton of bricks. 
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