expectation &c (disappointment) 509; miscalculation &c 481.
surprise, sudden burst, thunderclap, blow, shock, start; bolt out
of the blue; wonder &c 870; eye opener.
unpleasant surprise, pleasant surprise.
V. not expect &c 507; be taken by surprise; start; miscalculate &c 481;
not bargain for; come upon, fall upon.
be unexpected &c adj.; come unawares &c adv.; turn up, pop, drop
from the clouds; come upon one, burst upon one, flash upon one, bounce
upon one, steal upon one, creep upon one; come like a thunder clap,
burst like a thunderclap, thunder bolt; take by surprise, catch by
surprise, catch unawares, catch napping; yach [S. Afr.].
pounce upon, spring a mine upon.
surprise, startle, take aback, electrify, stun, stagger, take away
one's breath, throw off one's guard; astonish, dumbfound &c (strike
with wonder) 870.
Adj. nonexpectant†; surprised &c v.; unwarned, unaware; off one's guard;
inattentive 458.
unexpected, unanticipated, unpredicted†, unlooked for, unforeseen,
unhoped for; dropped from the clouds; beyond expectation, contrary to
expectation, against expectation, against all expectation; out of one's
reckoning; unheard of &c (exceptional) 83; startling, surprising;
sudden &c (instantaneous) 113.
unpredictable, unforeseeable (unknowable) 519.
Adv. abruptly, unexpectedly, surprisingly; plump, pop, a l'improviste
[Fr.], unawares; without notice, without warning, without a 'by your
leave'; like a thief in the night, like a thunderbolt; in an unguarded
moment; suddenly &c (instantaneously) 113.
Int. heydey!†, &c (wonder) 870.
Phr. little did one think, little did one expect; nobody would ever
suppose, nobody would ever think, nobody would ever expect; who would
have thought? it beats the Dutch†.