against (all) expectations
idiom
: although people thought it would be different : although people thought otherwise
Against (all) expectations, the birds survived.
Examples of against (all) expectations in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Iran’s approach to negotiations, against expectations, is now openly debated.
—
Farideh Farhi, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2013
Instead, it’s being made in Washington by a once-obscure Louisiana lawyer who, against all expectations, became speaker of the House last year.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024
And this newfound ocean, against all expectations, appears to be a proverbial newborn on the timescale of the solar system.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2024
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will likely push back Thursday against expectations for quick interest rate cuts even as Europe’s economy sputters and financial markets froth in hopes of cheaper credit that would boost business activity and stock prices.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for against (all) expectations 
Farideh Farhi, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2013
Instead, it’s being made in Washington by a once-obscure Louisiana lawyer who, against all expectations, became speaker of the House last year.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024
And this newfound ocean, against all expectations, appears to be a proverbial newborn on the timescale of the solar system.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2024
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will likely push back Thursday against expectations for quick interest rate cuts even as Europe’s economy sputters and financial markets froth in hopes of cheaper credit that would boost business activity and stock prices.
—David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for against (all) expectations
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'against (all) expectations.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near against (all) expectations
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“Against (all) expectations.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/against%20%28all%29%20expectations. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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