Idiom
out of left field
Meanings
Very surprising and unexpected, especially because it seems unrelated to the current situation or conversation.
Definition
If something comes out of left field, it is very surprising and unexpected.
When something comes out of left field, it happens or appears unexpectedly and often seems unrelated to what was being discussed. People use it for ideas, questions, events, or news that surprise everyone. It can be neutral or negative, depending on context, but it always emphasizes surprise.
Examples
- Her question came out of left field and everyone went silent.
- The CEO’s resignation was out of left field for the whole company.
- He proposed moving overseas out of left field during dinner.
- The sudden storm felt out of left field after a sunny morning.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share a quick update or confirm plans.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (adverbial phrase)s
- come hell or high water No matter what happens or how difficult things become.
- in a nutshell Used to give a brief, clear summary of something.
- bang to rights Caught clearly doing something wrong, with undeniable proof.
- by hook or by crook By hook or by crook means using any possible method to achieve something, whether fair or not.
- once in a blue moon If something happens once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely.