Tag Archives: unexpectedly

All of a sudden

October 18, 2024 Admin Leave a comment

Meaning: This idiom means something happened unexpectedly or very quickly, without any prior warning.

Usage in Example Sentences:

“All of a sudden, the lights went out during the storm.”
“She was walking calmly when all of a sudden, she tripped and fell.”
“We were talking when all of a sudden, he started shouting.”

Origin: The phrase “all of a sudden” has been used in English since the late 17th century. It likely originated from the phrase “of a sudden,” meaning an event occurred abruptly. The addition of “all” emphasizes the immediate and surprising nature of the event, reinforcing that it happened without anticipation or gradual buildup.

Idiom of the day

Out of the blue

September 20, 2024 Admin Leave a comment

Meaning: This idiom means something that happens unexpectedly, without warning or prior indication.

Usage in Example Sentences:

“He called me out of the blue after years of no contact.”
“The announcement came out of the blue and shocked everyone in the office.”
“Out of the blue, it started pouring rain during our picnic.”

Origin: The phrase “out of the blue” is derived from the longer expression “a bolt out of the blue,” which refers to lightning striking unexpectedly from a clear sky. Over time, it has come to describe anything that happens suddenly and without prior warning, much like an unforeseen lightning strike in an otherwise calm and clear situation. The idiom became shortened to “out of the blue” in everyday speech.