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
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
For all the attrition, the unit did much better against expectations in the 2-4 finish than the offense did.
—Kenny Rosarion, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024
High-profile tight end Travis Kelce underperformed against expectations Sunday in the Kansas City Chiefs' loss to the Denver Broncos — and his reported sweetheart, Taylor Swift, wasn't there to see it.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2023
The odd orbital alignments of icy objects in this region that were initially considered a smoking-gun signature for the putative planet’s gravitational influence could instead be caused by gravity itself behaving against expectations, some researchers say.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023
Philadelphia’s James Harden, the guard known for his Hall-of-Fame credentials, beard, step-back jumper and exits-gone-awry with Houston and Brooklyn, had just gone against expectations and exercised his player option for the final year of his contract, but with the desire to be traded.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
And coaches are ultimately judged not just by results but by how those results are measured against expectations.
—Michael Rand, Star Tribune, 30 Oct. 2020
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
For all the attrition, the unit did much better against expectations in the 2-4 finish than the offense did.
—Kenny Rosarion, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024
High-profile tight end Travis Kelce underperformed against expectations Sunday in the Kansas City Chiefs' loss to the Denver Broncos — and his reported sweetheart, Taylor Swift, wasn't there to see it.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2023
The odd orbital alignments of icy objects in this region that were initially considered a smoking-gun signature for the putative planet’s gravitational influence could instead be caused by gravity itself behaving against expectations, some researchers say.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2023
Philadelphia’s James Harden, the guard known for his Hall-of-Fame credentials, beard, step-back jumper and exits-gone-awry with Houston and Brooklyn, had just gone against expectations and exercised his player option for the final year of his contract, but with the desire to be traded.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
And coaches are ultimately judged not just by results but by how those results are measured against expectations.
—Michael Rand, Star Tribune, 30 Oct. 2020
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
Cite this Entry
“Against (all) expectations.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/against%20%28all%29%20expectations. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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