All of a sudden

Meaning

The idiom "all of a sudden" means without warning, unexpectedly, or instantly. It can also mean out of nowhere or from the blue.

Usage

• I was sitting in my office when suddenly, a group of people burst into the room.
• She had been acting normally all day, but then suddenly, she started crying uncontrollably.
• We were on our way to the movie theater when suddenly, we encountered heavy traffic.
• The weather was perfect all day, but then suddenly, a thunderstorm hit us out of nowhere.
• He had been studying for the exam all week, but then suddenly, he realized he had forgotten everything.

Roots and History

The idiom "all of a sudden" has roots in Middle English and is related to the phrase "alla atte once," which means "all at once." The phrase evolved over time and eventually became "all of a sudden." The earliest known use of the idiom was in the 14th century, and it has been used ever since. The usage of the idiom has remained relatively consistent over time, but its frequency of use may have increased with the rise of technology and the fast-paced nature of modern life.

Synonyms in English

• All at once
• Suddenly
• Instantly
• Without warning
• Out of nowhere

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "De repente" - This means suddenly or unexpectedly, and is used in a similar way to "all of a sudden."
• French: "À l'instant" - This means instantly or immediately, and is also used to describe something that happens out of nowhere.
• German: "Auf den ersten Anblick" - This means at first sight or immediately, and is used in a similar way to "all of a sudden."
• Italian: "Suddentemente" - This means suddenly or unexpectedly, and is used in a similar way to "all of a sudden."
• Arabic: "رجع" - This means suddenly or unexpectedly, and is used in a similar way to "all of a sudden."

Similar Idioms

• beat the air

• as far as

• a bird in the hand