a shock to the/someone's system
idiom
: something that has a sudden and usually unpleasant effect on someone
The cold weather was a shock to my system after being in the tropics.
For freshmen, college life can be a real shock to the system.
Examples of a shock to the/someone's system in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Devers trade was obviously a shock to the system and really unearthed a lot of the hard feelings that the Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman acquisitions seemed to smooth over.
—
Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025
For borrowers who weren't aware or couldn't make payments, it's been a shock to the system.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 19 May 2025
If that 2-1 defeat was a shock to the system, Tuesday brought full-fledged electrocution as Arsenal thrashed Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of a quarter-final to leave their hopes of back-to-back Champions League titles dangling by a thread.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
But seeing Trouba in orange will be a shock to the system.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a shock to the/someone's system
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Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025
For borrowers who weren't aware or couldn't make payments, it's been a shock to the system.
—Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 19 May 2025
If that 2-1 defeat was a shock to the system, Tuesday brought full-fledged electrocution as Arsenal thrashed Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of a quarter-final to leave their hopes of back-to-back Champions League titles dangling by a thread.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
But seeing Trouba in orange will be a shock to the system.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a shock to the/someone's system
Cite this Entry
“A shock to the/someone's system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20shock%20to%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20system. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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