unexpected surprise
Tautology for emphasis
A redundant phrase, since surprises are by definition unexpected.
The expression appears frequently in casual speech as an intensifier: What an unexpected surprise to see you here!
Despite its logical redundancy, the phrase emphasizes genuine astonishment rather than mere surprise, which can be feigned or mild.
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
- bombshellShocking sudden revelation
- rude awakeningStartling unpleasant realization
twist · gasp · stunned · blindsided · curveball · wild card · revelation · windfall · happy accident · plot twist · startle · ambush · bolt from the blue · unforeseen · sudden · bolt · whoa · flabbergasted
- Redundanciestautology, pleonasm, redundancy, redundant phrase, added bonus
unexpected surpriseforegone conclusion
Result assumed beforehand
certainty · the usual · inevitability · sure thing · known quantity
unexpected, surprise, expect, expected, expectation, expectations, unexpectedly, expecting, expects