of all things
Why that specifically
Of all things expresses surprise or disbelief that something unexpected or improbable has occurred, often with a note of irony: She became a nun, of all things.
The phrase emphasizes that among all possibilities, this particular one is remarkable or hard to believe: He showed up with flowers, of all things.
- emphasisStress given to something
- incredulityInability to accept something
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
well I never · turn of phrase · bewilderment · oddity · irony · peculiarity · of all people · amazement · you don't say · anomaly · figure of speech · expression · prominence · saying · underscoring · colloquialism · focus · exasperation
of all thingspredictably
In an expected manner
as expected · unsurprisingly · naturally · of course · as usual
of all thingsnothing special
Lacking distinction or note
no big deal · unremarkably · ordinarily · mundanely · routinely