Unexpected meaning in English
Learn how to use Unexpected correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
unexpected: unanticipated, surprising, sudden, abrupt
expected: anticipated, unsurprising; predictable, likely; future, prospective
Pronunciation examples
UK: I received an unexpected visit from the Police.
US: The welcome I received from my cell-mate was completely unexpected.
Examples
- "What we need is some new and unexpected good luck!"
- "The takeover was an unexpected blow to the family-run business that could mark the end of a century of locally-tailored Italian couture."
- "She told me that your unexpected presence on and around her furniture has unsettled her."
- "Philip : Huh, unexpected."
- "Due to an unexpected change in planning, the meeting on "security systems", originally scheduled for next Thursday, has been indefinitely postponed."
- "That music was very unexpected."
- "It all started in Guatemala, where we had an unexpected layover..."
- "For example, his repeated assertions concerning the absence of monkeys in his laboratory were quite unexpected."
- "I have some new and unexpected good luck."
- "The marketing department, you see, has a flexible budget which accounts for the unpredictable expenses of publicity campaigns, endorsements and travel, so this outlay is not entirely unexpected."
- "The American government cited increasing consumer demand and a stagnant economy as reasons for the unexpected decision."
Exercise 1
Check the TRUE statements from the list below.
There may be more than one!
There may be more than one!
Check the TRUE statements from the list below.
There may be more than one!
There may be more than one!
This is a false statement. In the article we read that the announcement came as a "major shock" to EU commission officials, and that they "were stunned by this unexpected development". This indicates that Zirconda's announcement was unexpected.
This is a true statement. At the end of the article, the minister is quoted as saying: "So what? England is pretty far away from the rest of Europe". This indicates that he doesn't consider the distance between Zirconda and Europe to be a factor in the Commission's decision. The expression "So what?" indicates that someone thinks the previous statement is unimportant or irrelevant. Example: -My mother is coming over this evening. -So what?
This statement is true. The article states that "no one is sure whether or not this application will be taken seriously by the European Commission". This clearly indicates that it is "uncertain" or "unsure" that the commission will consider Zirconda's membership seriously.
This statement is not true. At the beginning of the article, Zirconda is described as a "tiny island nation", and later in the article we learn that Zirconda is more than 3000 kilometers from "mainland Europe". Zirconda is an island which is not part of mainland Europe. "Mainland" means continent.
Exercise 2
Bruno apologizes for calling Donna "out of the blue".
Why is he apologizing?
Why is he apologizing?
Bruno apologizes for calling Donna "out of the blue".
Why is he apologizing?
Why is he apologizing?
Although the term "blue" can express the sense of feeling sad or down, this isn't the case here.
Although people often apologize for "calling at a bad time", this isn't the reason for Bruno's apology. Bruno is excusing himself for calling Donna even though she doesn't know him and didn't give him her phone number.
Bruno is not apologizing because Donna is no longer working, but because Donna doesn't know him and his call was unexpected. "To be on the air" is to be speaking on the radio live, while to be off the air is the opposite.
To call someone "out of the blue" is to call them suddenly, without warning or unexpectedly. This expression is related to the longer idiom "out of a clear blue sky" which expresses a sense of something arriving from the sky randomly or without warning. Bruno is apologizing because Donna doesn't know him, and his phone call is unexpected.
Exercise 3
Susie is upset (angry and unhappy)! Why?
Choose the TRUE statements from the list below. Select all the reasons that Susie gives for being unhappy!
Choose the TRUE statements from the list below. Select all the reasons that Susie gives for being unhappy!
Susie is upset (angry and unhappy)! Why?
Choose the TRUE statements from the list below. Select all the reasons that Susie gives for being unhappy!
Choose the TRUE statements from the list below. Select all the reasons that Susie gives for being unhappy!
This statement is true. Susie announces that she doesn't appreciate Philip's "sexual innuendos and constant comments" on her body and clothes! This is one of the reasons that Susie is upset and unhappy with Philip. In this context, "figure" and "body" are synonymous.
This statement is true. When Philip declares that Susie "loves it" when Philip stops by for chats, Susie responds that she in fact "hates" or "detests" when Philip visits. This is one of the reasons that Susie is upset or unhappy with Philip.
This statement is false. Luna hasn't taken anyone's side in this discussion, she simply wants to hear what Susie has to say about Philip. "To take someone's side (in an argument)" is to support one person's argument or to favor one point of view over another.
This statement is false. At no point in this dialogue does Susie say that Philip has touched her, either appropriately or inappropriately. "To be angry (at, with someone)" is to be mad at them or upset with them.
This statement is true. Susie tells both Philip and Luna that she is sick of Philip's "stupid sexist nicknames". In this dialogue, Philip uses several "nicknames" (familiar or affectionate terms for a person or object) for Susie and Luna, including "honey bunch", "pussy cat", "sugar pie", "Mamacita" and more. Philip even refers to himself as "Daddy"! To be "sick of (a person)" is to be tired of them or frustrated with them.
Exercise 4
"There were some unforeseen circumstances."
Which of the following are examples of "unforeseen circumstances"?
(Select all the correct choices from the list below. There may be more than one).
Which of the following are examples of "unforeseen circumstances"?
(Select all the correct choices from the list below. There may be more than one).
"There were some unforeseen circumstances."
Which of the following are examples of "unforeseen circumstances"?
(Select all the correct choices from the list below. There may be more than one).
Which of the following are examples of "unforeseen circumstances"?
(Select all the correct choices from the list below. There may be more than one).
This is an incorrect choice. "Inevitable" and "unforeseen" are antonyms: they share opposite meanings. An "inevitable (divorce)" is one which cannot be avoided or is sure to happen.
This is not an example of an "unforeseen circumstance". A film with famous actors and a director is usually "expected" to be successful. An example of something "unforeseen" or "unexpected", is a film with famous actors and a director which FAILS to make money.
This is a correct choice. "Unforeseen" is synonymous with the term "unanticipated" or "unexpected": it is used to describe an event which arrives without warning, like an unexpected death. Herbert says "there were some unforeseen circumstances", which means that something happened that he wasn't expecting.
This is an incorrect choice. The term "oyster" might be a nice definition for this type of person.
This is a correct choice. "Unforeseen" is synonymous with the term "unpredicted" or "unexpected". It is used to describe an event which arrives without warning, such as weather conditions which have not been forecast. Other example: The Edward Moon concert was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Exercise 5
Mick tells Bruno about "the numbers", saying that they are "pretty decent".
Mick is probably referring to the , which he considers .
Mick is probably referring to the , which he considers .
Mick tells Bruno about "the numbers", saying that they are "pretty decent".
Mick is probably referring to the sales figures 1, which he considers adequate 2.
Mick is probably referring to the sales figures 1, which he considers adequate 2.
1 sales figures: Mick talks about the "numbers" just after he mentions the "financial report for the fall quarter", which is the best indication that he is referring to the information within the financial report. People often refer to sales figures (percentages, statistics, profit margins, operating costs, revenues, etc.) as "numbers".
1 quantity of reports: Mick tells Bruno "here is the financial report for the fall quarter". This tells us that there is only one report. Although the term "numbers" can refer to the "quantity" or "amount" of something, as in the sentence "the number of qualified candidates for the position surprised me", but Mick is not referring a quantity of reports in this case.
1 decrease in temperature: Although Mick mentions the reports for the "fall quarter" there is no reason why he would discuss the temperature with Bruno. "The fall" can refer to the season also called autumn.
1 drop in profits: Although Mick refers to the "fall" earlier in the same sentence, he is referring to the season "fall" and not to any sort of "drop off" in profits or sales.
1 quantity of employees: The term "numbers" can refer to the "quantity" or "amount" of something, as in the sentence "the number of qualified candidates for the position surprised me", but Mick is not referring a quantity of employees in this case.
2 adequate: Mick's statement that the numbers are "decent" indicates that the "sales figures" are "adequate" or "reasonable". It is true that the word "decent" can be used in many different situations and contexts, however in this dialogue "decent" expresses the adequacy of the numbers: they are not great, but not terrible either. Note that in English Mick's comment is not an "understatement", the best indication of this is Mick's pronunciation of the phrase.
2 unacceptable: "Decent" does not share a similar meaning with "unacceptable", which describes a situation which is not permissible.
2 worse than expected: Mick is not expressing that the "numbers" are "worse than expected" but rather that they are "adequate". If the figures are worse than expected, then better results were anticipated.
2 better than expected: Mick is not expressing that the "numbers" are "better than expected" but rather that they are "adequate". If the figures are better than expected, then worse, or more modest results were anticipated.
2 to be decreasing: Do not confuse the adjective "decent" with the noun "descent" (which means a fall, drop or lowering) or the verb "to descend". The two words share a similar sound, but have a different meaning.
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