These expressions are used to convey shock, amazement, or disbelief. Discover 20 idioms and phrasal verbs to express surprise effectively.

Surprise Expressions

1. Blow someone away
   Meaning: Impress someone greatly
   Example: The movie really blew me away.
2. Take aback
   Meaning: Surprise or shock greatly
   Example: She was taken aback by his proposal.
3. Knock someone’s socks off
   Meaning: Amaze or astonish someone
   Example: The fireworks will knock your socks off!
4. Jump out of one’s skin
   Meaning: React strongly due to shock
   Example: He jumped out of his skin when the door slammed.
5. Blow someone’s mind
   Meaning: Greatly surprise or amaze
   Example: Her performance blew my mind.
6. Hit like a ton of bricks
   Meaning: Have a sudden, shocking impact
   Example: The news hit him like a ton of bricks.
7. Raise eyebrows
   Meaning: Cause surprise or mild shock
   Example: His eccentric outfit raised some eyebrows.
8. Drop a bombshell
   Meaning: Reveal shocking news or information
   Example: She dropped a bombshell about her resignation.
9. Turn up like a bad penny
   Meaning: Appear unexpectedly, often unpleasantly
   Example: He turned up like a bad penny at the party.
10. Fall off one’s chair
    Meaning: Be extremely surprised
    Example: I almost fell off my chair when I heard that!
11. Hit someone for six
    Meaning: Greatly surprise or shock someone
    Example: The unexpected results hit her for six.
12. Come as a shock
    Meaning: Be surprising and unexpected
    Example: The sudden announcement came as a shock.
13. Take by surprise
    Meaning: Surprise unexpectedly
    Example: The storm took us by surprise.
14. Make someone’s jaw drop
    Meaning: Greatly surprise or astonish
    Example: The stunning view made my jaw drop.
15. Catch off guard
    Meaning: Surprise someone unexpectedly
    Example: The question caught her off guard.
16. Throw for a loop
    Meaning: Confuse or surprise greatly
    Example: The unexpected twist threw him for a loop.
17. In for a surprise
    Meaning: About to be surprised
    Example: She was in for a surprise at the party.
18. Blow out of the water
    Meaning: Surprise or overwhelm greatly
    Example: The team’s performance blew us out of the water.
19. Pull the rug out from under
    Meaning: Surprise or unsettle suddenly
    Example: The sudden firing pulled the rug out from under her.
20. Shock to the system
    Meaning: A big, surprising change
    Example: Moving to a new city was a shock to the system.