the shock of life
the shock of (one's) life
An extreme and sudden sensation of shock, surprise, or fear. Often used after the verbs "get" or "give." Seeing the car swerve right in front of her gave Mary the shock of her life. I got the shock of my life when I noticed someone standing right behind me. Little did he know that he was in for the shock of his life when he crossed the threshold of the old mansion.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*the shock of one's life
Fig. a serious (emotional) shock. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give one ~.) I opened the telegram and got the shock of my life. I had the shock of my life when I won $5,000.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
References in periodicals archive
Two qualities that were often found lacking in the early months of last season when they struggled to adapt to
the shock of life in the bottom tier.
A movie-set source tells me: "Brad got
the shock of life.
Nothing can prepare a new dancer for
the shock of life in the corps.
The water was cool as ice in the night and
the shock of life was waiting for us there.
Millionaire Nick Leslau comes to Scotland, and finds that his huge wealth and business success can't prepare him for
the shock of life in a housing scheme in Glasgow.
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