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Express surprise

Expressing surprise

Sometimes you see or hear something that you were not expecting. Maybe it's an unexpected event or a piece of information. Here are ten expressions that show how surprised you are.

    

  1. Really?
    2. 

  2. What?
    3. 

  3. What a surprise!
    4. 

  4. Well I never!/Blimey!
    5. 

  5. That's the last thing I expected
    6. 

  6. You're kidding!
    7. 

  7. I don't believe it!/Are you serious?
    8. 

  8. I'm speechless!
    9. 

  9. I'd never have guessed.
    10. 

  10. You don't say!
    11.

Explanations

  • We say phrases 1 and 2 with rising intonation. It's important to make your voice go up at the end. You are inviting the other speaker to give you more information.
  • Phrase 3 is a general expression of surprise
  • Phrases in 4 are strong exclamations. "Blimey!" is a little rude as it literally means "God blind me!"
  • We say phrase 5 when something is completely different to what you expected - after a surprising event.
  • Phrases in 6 and 7 are saying that we really don't believe the information.
  • Phrase 8 is saying that you are so surprised that you can't speak.
  • Phrase 10 is a little old fashioned. If people say this nowadays, they are probably being sarcastic and they really mean that it isn't surprising at all.
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