Surprise
Eyebrow raising
Meaning
Something that creates shock or surprise.
Examples
Everyone expected Brokeback Mountain to get the Oscar. When the announcement said Crash had won it was truly eyebrow raising.
Where did it originate?
USA and Britain, early 20th century.
Where is it used?
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Great scot
Meaning
Exclamation of surprise.
Examples
Great Scot James, isn’t there a gorilla in the back seat of that car!
Where is it used?
Worldwide, although somewhat old-fashioned.
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Hidden in plain sight
Meaning
Something that defies apprehension by being too obvious.
Examples
After robbing the jewellers the thief just stood in the crowd and watched the police search all the local alleys. I guess hiding in plain sight worked for him.
Where did it originate?
USA, 19th century.
Where is it used?
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Holy shit!
Meaning
An expression of extreme surprise or disbelief.
Examples
Two lottery wins in our street in one week! Holy shit – that’s next to impossible.
Where did it originate?
Where is it used?
Mostly USA.
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Out of the blue
Meaning
Suddenly and unexpectedly.
Examples
We were sunbathing and then it just started to hail. It was literally out of the blue.
Where did it originate?
Britain, 19th century (as ‘a bolt from the blue’).
Where is it used?
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How the idiom originated
Stranger things have happened
Meaning
Said when the feasibility of some unlikely event is questioned.
Examples
Jamie says he just saw a chimp waiting at the bus stop. I don’t really believe him, but then, stranger things have happened.
Where is it used?
Mostly Britain.
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