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| It beats me! | This expression is
used to express surprise at something that you find difficult to understand, "It beats me how he can live in that horrible apartment!" |
| It's beyond me | The expression "it's beyond me" means:
"it's impossible for me to understand" "It's beyond me why Mary wants to marry John." |
| A bolt from the blue |
To refer to something as a bolt from the blue means that it happened completely unexpectedly. The chairman's resignation came as a bolt from the blue!" |
| Out of the blue | If something happens out of the blue, it happens unexpectedly. |
| Caught unawares |
If someone is caught unawares, they are surprised and unprepared for what happens. "The security guard moved so silently that the thief was caught unawares" |
| Do a double take | Someone who does a double take looks again in surprise at
something unexpected. "He did a double take when he saw his wife in a restaurant with another man." |
| Drop a bombshell |
If you drop a bombshell, you make an unexpected announcement which will greatly change a situation. "The chairman dropped a bombshell when he announced the merger with the company's biggest rival." |
| One's jaw drops | If someone's jaw drops, they show total amazement. "When the prize was announced, the winner's jaw dropped." |
| Jump out of one's skin. | If you jump out of your skin, you are extremely
surprised or shocked. "Jane nearly jumped out of her skin when the horse put its head through the window!" |
| Knock somebody down with a feather |
To say "you could have knocked me
down with a feather" emphasizes the fact that you were extremely surprised. "When I heard the name of the winner, you could have knocked me down with a feather!" |
| Likely story |
This expression is used to say that you do not believe what has
just been said. "He said he'd found the money on the street - that's a likely story!" |
| Lo and behold! |
This term is used to express surprise, especially at a sudden or unexpected appearance. "I was watering the flowers, when lo and behold, there was the watch I'd lost!" |
| The mind boggles |
The expression "the
mind boggles" is used as a reaction to something you find amazing or difficult to understand. |
| Nine-day wonder |
An event which is a nine-day wonder causes interest, surprise or excitement for a short time, but it doesn't last. "His sudden departure was a nine-day wonder but he was soon forgotten." |
| Pigs might fly |
To say pigs might fly expresses disbelief, or the
idea that miracles might happen but are extremely unlikely. "My grandmother buying a computer? ...Yeah! ...and pigs might fly!" |
| Raise eyebrows |
If you raise your eyebrows at something, you show surprise or
disapproval by the expression on your face. "When the boss arrived in jeans, there were a lot of raised eyebrows." |
| Rooted to the spot |
If you are so shocked, surprised or scared that you are rooted to the spot, your reaction is so strong that you are unable to move. "Joe stood rooted to the spot as the plane landed on the water." |
| Seeing is believing |
This expression means that when you see something, you can be sure it exists, or that what you have been told is really true. "Mark says bananas grow in his garden, but seeing is believing!" |
| It's a small world |
This expression is used by someone who is surprised to meet familiar people, events or situations in unexpected places. "Wow! It's a small world. I never expected to meet a neighbour on a transatlantic flight!" |
| Stop dead in one's tracks | If you stop dead in your tracks, you stop
suddenly because you are frightened or surprised. "When Steve saw the snake, he stopped dead in his tracks." |
| Struck dumb |
If someone is struck dumb, they are unable to speak because they are so surprised, shocked or frightened by something. "The accused was struck dumb when the verdict was announced." |
| There's no accounting for taste! | This expression is used to indicate surprise at another person's likes
or dislikes "She fell in love with a guy who's short, fat, bald and poor ... well, there's no accounting for taste!" |
| Wonders will never cease! | This saying is used to express
pleasure or surprise at something. "Idioms are increasingly popular with learners of English. Wonders will never cease!" |
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