# 35 Idioms for Surprise
Idioms are like secret codes in the English language. They’re phrases where the words together mean something different from what they mean on their own. Learning idioms is super helpful because they make your English sound more natural and colorful. Plus, you’ll understand jokes and conversations more easily!
Today, we’re diving into idioms that show surprise. Surprise is that feeling you get when something unexpected happens. Instead of just saying “I was surprised,” using an idiom makes your reaction more vivid and interesting. Let’s explore some great ways to express surprise in English!
Idioms for Surprise
1. Knock me over with a feather
Meaning: To be extremely surprised, often to the point of feeling overwhelmed.
In a Sentence: When I heard I won the lottery, you could have knocked me over with a feather! / He was so calm about the proposal; you could have knocked him over with a feather when I said no.
Other Ways to Say: I was thunderstruck / I was speechless / I was astounded
2. My jaw dropped
Meaning: To be so surprised that your mouth literally opens in shock.
In a Sentence: My jaw dropped when she told me she was moving to Antarctica. / When the magician made the rabbit disappear, everyone’s jaw dropped.
Other Ways to Say: I was dumbfounded / I couldn’t believe my eyes / I was flabbergasted
3. Stop the presses!
Meaning: A way to announce something very surprising or important, as if it’s headline news.
In a Sentence: Stop the presses! I just found out that they’re cancelling school for a whole week. / Stop the presses! I think I finally understand fractions.
Other Ways to Say: This is big news! / Hold everything! / Listen to this!
4. I nearly jumped out of my skin
Meaning: To be very startled or frightened by something unexpected.
In a Sentence: I nearly jumped out of my skin when the lights suddenly went out. / The loud bang nearly made me jump out of my skin.
Other Ways to Say: I was scared stiff / I got the fright of my life / I almost had a heart attack
5. You could have heard a pin drop
Meaning: The room became completely silent because everyone was so surprised.
In a Sentence: When the winner was announced, you could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium. / After his outburst, you could have heard a pin drop.
Other Ways to Say: It was deathly silent / All eyes were on him / Everyone was frozen
6. That came out of left field
Meaning: Something that was completely unexpected and seemingly unrelated to anything before.
In a Sentence: Her decision to quit her job and travel the world came completely out of left field. / The question about my favorite color came out of left field during the serious interview.
Other Ways to Say: That was unexpected / Out of the blue / That was a curveball
7. It blew my mind
Meaning: Something was so amazing or surprising that it overwhelmed you.
In a Sentence: The special effects in that movie really blew my mind. / Learning about quantum physics blew my mind.
Other Ways to Say: It astonished me / It wowed me / I was blown away
8. I didn’t see that coming
Meaning: To be completely unprepared for something that happened.
In a Sentence: I didn’t see that plot twist coming in the final episode. / I definitely didn’t see that rainstorm coming; I left my umbrella at home!
Other Ways to Say: I was caught off guard / It took me by surprise / It blindsided me
9. Well, I’ll be!
Meaning: An exclamation of surprise, often used in a slightly old-fashioned way.
In a Sentence: Well, I’ll be! Look who just walked through the door. / Well, I’ll be! I finally finished the puzzle!
Other Ways to Say: Gosh! / Wow! / I’m surprised!
10. I was taken aback
Meaning: To be shocked and surprised, often in a negative way.
In a Sentence: I was completely taken aback by his rude comment. / She was taken aback by the unexpected question.
Other Ways to Say: I was shocked / I was startled / I was caught off guard
11. It knocked the wind out of me
Meaning: To be shocked and disheartened by something unexpected.
In a Sentence: The news of the company closing down knocked the wind out of me. / Hearing about the accident knocked the wind out of him.
Other Ways to Say: I was devastated / I was flattened / It floored me
12. I nearly choked on my coffee
Meaning: To be so surprised by something that you have a strong physical reaction.
In a Sentence: I nearly choked on my coffee when I saw the price of that car. / She nearly choked on her coffee when she heard the gossip.
Other Ways to Say: I was taken by surprise / I was shocked / I did a double-take
13. My eyes popped out
Meaning: To be extremely surprised, as if your eyes are bulging out of your head.
In a Sentence: My eyes popped out when I saw how much weight he had lost. / Her eyes popped out when she opened the gift.
Other Ways to Say: I was amazed / I couldn’t believe my eyes / I was astounded
14. I lost my words
Meaning: To be so surprised that you can’t think of anything to say.
In a Sentence: I lost my words when he proposed to me. / She lost her words when she saw the size of the crowd.
Other Ways to Say: I was speechless / I was dumbfounded / I didn’t know what to say
15. It stopped me in my tracks
Meaning: To be so surprised that you physically stop moving.
In a Sentence: The news of her winning the award stopped me in my tracks. / The beautiful sunset stopped me in my tracks.
Other Ways to Say: It startled me / It made me pause / It made me stop and think
16. I was in disbelief
Meaning: To be unable to believe something that has happened.
In a Sentence: I was in complete disbelief when I heard the news. / She was in disbelief after winning the championship.
Other Ways to Say: I couldn’t believe it / I was skeptical / I was unconvinced
17. That’s a bolt from the blue
Meaning: Something totally unexpected and usually unpleasant.
In a Sentence: The sudden resignation of the CEO was a bolt from the blue. / The unexpected tax increase was a bolt from the blue.
Other Ways to Say: A complete surprise / Out of nowhere / A shock
18. I had to do a double take
Meaning: To look again because you couldn’t believe what you saw the first time.
In a Sentence: I had to do a double take when I saw my old friend on the street. / He did a double take when he saw the price tag.
Other Ways to Say: I looked again / I couldn’t believe my eyes / I looked twice
19. I was floored
Meaning: To be completely surprised and overwhelmed by something.
In a Sentence: I was floored by the generosity of the community. / She was floored by the standing ovation.
Other Ways to Say: I was overwhelmed / I was astonished / I was stunned
20. Catch someone off guard
Meaning: To surprise someone unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: The pop quiz really caught me off guard. / The unexpected question during the interview caught him off guard.
Other Ways to Say: Surprise someone / Take someone by surprise / Ambush someone
21. I never saw that coming in a million years
Meaning: To emphasize how unexpected something was.
In a Sentence: I never saw that plot twist coming in a million years! / I never thought they would get married; I never saw that coming in a million years.
Other Ways to Say: I never expected that / That was completely unpredictable / I didn’t anticipate that.
22. It was a revelation
Meaning: A surprising and previously unknown fact that has been revealed.
In a Sentence: The book was a revelation about the author’s life. / Learning about the benefits of meditation was a revelation to him.
Other Ways to Say: An eye-opener / A discovery / An unveiling
23. To one’s great surprise
Meaning: Expressing the fact that the situation was unexpected.
In a Sentence: To my great surprise, I won the competition. / To her great surprise, she was offered the job.
Other Ways to Say: Unexpectedly / Surprisingly / To one’s shock
24. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: To be so surprised that you freeze and are unable to react.
In a Sentence: When the teacher called on him, he looked like a deer in headlights. / She was like a deer in headlights when the car suddenly swerved in front of her.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen with fear / Stunned / Shocked into inaction
25. It gave me goosebumps
Meaning: To be so surprised or moved that tiny bumps appear on your skin.
In a Sentence: The singer’s amazing voice gave me goosebumps. / The scary movie gave me goosebumps.
Other Ways to Say: It thrilled me / It excited me / It moved me
26. I couldn’t believe my ears
Meaning: To be so surprised by what you heard that you doubt it.
In a Sentence: I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard she was pregnant. / He couldn’t believe his ears when he heard he got the scholarship.
Other Ways to Say: I was shocked by what I heard / I was astonished by the news / I couldn’t process what I heard
27. Out of thin air
Meaning: To appear suddenly and unexpectedly, as if from nowhere.
In a Sentence: The magician made a rabbit appear out of thin air. / Where did this extra money come from? It seems to have appeared out of thin air!
Other Ways to Say: Magically / Suddenly / From nowhere
28. That’s a turn-up for the books!
Meaning: Something very surprising and unexpected.
In a Sentence: Her winning the election? That’s a real turn-up for the books! / It rained all summer? That’s a turn-up for the books!
Other Ways to Say: That’s surprising! / That’s unexpected! / That’s astonishing!
29. I was gobsmacked
Meaning: (British English) Overwhelmed with amazement.
In a Sentence: He was gobsmacked when he saw the celebrity. / We were gobsmacked by the incredible view.
Other Ways to Say: Astonished / Stunned / Flabbergasted
30. Get quite a shock
Meaning: Experience an emotional upset or surprise.
In a Sentence: My sister got quite a shock when she found the kitten under her car. / I got quite a shock when I saw the phone bill.
Other Ways to Say: Experience surprise / Receive a shock / Get startled
31. That’s news to me
Meaning: Means that you had not heard or known about something that someone has told you
In a Sentence: “Amy and James are getting married!” “That’s news to me! I didn’t even know they were dating.” / She told me she got the promotion, but that news to me.
Other Ways to Say: I didn’t know that / That’s new information / This is the first I’m hearing this
32. I was taken by surprise
Meaning: To experience sudden astonishment
In a Sentence: Due to the fact that the door was unlocked, I was taken by surprise and stumbled into the room. / She was taken by surprise when her friend threw a party for her.
Other Ways to Say: To be surprised / To be startled / To be shocked
33. Like finding a needle in a haystack
Meaning: To happen unexpectedly and be extremely lucky or fortunate.
In a Sentence: Finding such good deal on a used car was like finding a needle in a haystack. / Finding the missing documents was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult to find / Unexpectedly fortunate / Extremely lucky
34. Broadside
Meaning: An attack or hit on the side of someone or something; or to be confronted with questions from all sides.
In a Sentence: I was blindsided by complaints about my work; it was like I was being hit broadside with criticism. / The candidate was hit broadside with questions during the debate.
Other Ways to Say: Critized or attacked hard / Unexpectedly hit with problems / Confronted severely
35. Land on one’s feet.
Meaning: Recover quickly from a difficult situation or surprise.
In a Sentence: Even though he lost his job, he landed on his feet by starting his own company. / She always manages to land on her feet, no matter what happens.
Other Ways to Say: Recover successfully / Bounce back / Overcome adversity
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blank with the best idiom from the list below:
- Blew my mind
- Jaw dropped
- Out of left field
- Stop the presses
- Well, I’ll be
- Knocked me over with a feather
- Taken aback
- Deer in headlights
- Choked on my coffee
- Double take
1. When she told me she was quitting her job to become a clown, my _____.
2. _______! I actually got an A+ on the test!
3. The special effects in that movie really ______.
4. Her question about my dating history was definitely ______.
5. When I saw the price of the concert tickets, I nearly ______.
6. When I heard I won the lottery, you could have ____!
7. I had to do a _______ because I didn’t think I’d just seen a llama walk past my window.
8. The surprise party completely ______ him.
9. ______! I just found out that the world is round!
10. He looked like a ______ when the teacher asked him about his missing homework.
Answer Key
1. Jaw dropped
2. Well, I’ll be
3. Blew my mind
4. Out of left field
5. Choked on my coffee
6. Knocked me over with a feather
7. Double take
8. Taken aback
9. Stop the presses
10. Deer in headlights
Conclusion
Learning idioms related to surprise can make your English sound more expressive and engaging. These idioms provide nuanced ways to convey exactly how surprised you are, adding depth and color to your conversations and writing.
By mastering and using these idioms, you’ll not only improve your understanding of the English language but also connect with native speakers more effectively. So, keep practicing and incorporating these expressions into your everyday vocabulary to truly master the art of expressing surprise!
