of all things

Definitions

1. Especially; more than other things.
   idiomatic
2. Surprisingly.
   idiomatic, often

Equivalents

Examples

“He reached into his pocket and pulled out, of all things, an ice cream cone.”

“Well, of all things! Who would have⟳ expected him to propose⟳ to her on stage⟳?”

““Well, of all things!” cried the equally astonished Jane. “And here I have⟳ been wasting whole reams of perfectly good imagination picturing you in Baltimore—the very idea!” And she threw her arms about her friend once more, and kissed her a dozen times.”

“Mother went a little pale. “Preposterous!” she said. “I don’t know⟳ what’s got into you!” She fiddled with her bouffant, almost as if she was nervous. “Your father, in a rock band of all things! First that exercise book full of outrageous stories, and now this!””

“Liverpool needed a break⟳ and they got it at the beginning of the second half, from, of all things, a misplaced City pass⟳. Aké was the culprit, undercooking his attempt⟳ to go back to Ederson and seeing Núñez steal⟳ in. He toed it away from the goalkeeper and was promptly cleaned out by him.”

CEFR level