be in for a (big/real) surprise
idiom
—used to say that someone will be very surprised by something
They are in for a (big/real) surprise when they come home.
Examples of be in for a (big/real) surprise in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those hoping that finding a higher-paying job is the answer may be in for a surprise.
—
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2023
Investors hoping that the Fed is nearing the end of its economy-slowing interest rate hiking campaign could be in for a surprise.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023
When the house wakes up, everyone will be in for a surprise.
—Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 28 Oct. 2022
But teams themselves also might be in for a surprise, as there are a number of different ways that Day 1 could pan out.
—Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2022
People who collected unemployment benefits last year could also be in for a surprise.
—PEOPLE.com, 26 Jan. 2022
Looters who hit San Francisco’s fashionable Union Square during the protests may be in for a surprise — the area has nearly 430 security cameras, and video from them has been turned over to the police as evidence for arrests.
—Phil Matier, SFChronicle.com, 7 June 2020
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2023
Investors hoping that the Fed is nearing the end of its economy-slowing interest rate hiking campaign could be in for a surprise.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023
When the house wakes up, everyone will be in for a surprise.
—Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 28 Oct. 2022
But teams themselves also might be in for a surprise, as there are a number of different ways that Day 1 could pan out.
—Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2022
People who collected unemployment benefits last year could also be in for a surprise.
—PEOPLE.com, 26 Jan. 2022
Looters who hit San Francisco’s fashionable Union Square during the protests may be in for a surprise — the area has nearly 430 security cameras, and video from them has been turned over to the police as evidence for arrests.
—Phil Matier, SFChronicle.com, 7 June 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'be in for a (big/real) surprise.' 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 be in for a (big/real) surprise
Cite this Entry
“Be in for a (big/real) surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20in%20for%20a%20%28big%2Freal%29%20surprise. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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