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
Now, Trump was certainly a shock to the system in 2016, accelerating political trends by pulling more white voters without a college degree into the GOP fold and pushing many college graduates toward the Democrats.
—
Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024
That one-two shuffle — wherein the motion picture industry gets rocked by a shock to the system, followed by an adaptation that not only meets the challenge but turns it to advantage — set a pattern for Hollywood’s crisis management forever after.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Dec. 2023
Udoka acknowledged that after a first-round sweep of a Nets team built on finesse rather than tenacity, the Bucks’ tenacious approach was a shock to the system in Game 1.
—Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2022
Although a default at Country Garden would not be as big a shock to the system as Evergrande’s collapse in 2021, the timing is worse because the economy is so much weaker.
—Meaghan Tobin, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023
Story continues below advertisement Advertisement For newcomers, Nolan’s rules were a shock to the system.
—Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 19 July 2023
To say that she’s been a splash of cold water would suggest that her votes have been out of character, a shock to the system.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022
Right now, people are having a shock to the system.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2022
While upticks in violent crime during the summer months are common in many major cities, this year could be more of a shock to the system as post-pandemic public life resumes and people continue to grapple with the mental and financial trauma of the past year, experts say.
—Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2021
Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024
That one-two shuffle — wherein the motion picture industry gets rocked by a shock to the system, followed by an adaptation that not only meets the challenge but turns it to advantage — set a pattern for Hollywood’s crisis management forever after.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Dec. 2023
Udoka acknowledged that after a first-round sweep of a Nets team built on finesse rather than tenacity, the Bucks’ tenacious approach was a shock to the system in Game 1.
—Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2022
Although a default at Country Garden would not be as big a shock to the system as Evergrande’s collapse in 2021, the timing is worse because the economy is so much weaker.
—Meaghan Tobin, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2023
Story continues below advertisement Advertisement For newcomers, Nolan’s rules were a shock to the system.
—Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 19 July 2023
To say that she’s been a splash of cold water would suggest that her votes have been out of character, a shock to the system.
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022
Right now, people are having a shock to the system.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2022
While upticks in violent crime during the summer months are common in many major cities, this year could be more of a shock to the system as post-pandemic public life resumes and people continue to grapple with the mental and financial trauma of the past year, experts say.
—Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a shock to the/someone's system.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“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 19 Apr. 2024.
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