lo and behold
1
used to express one's surprise or bafflement at something unexpected or remarkable
The idiom "lo and behold" is a phrase used to express surprise or discovery when something unexpected or confusing is revealed. It is a way of drawing attention to the remarkable or unforeseen nature of what has just occurred. This expression has been in use for centuries and is derived from Middle English and Old English, where "lo" means "look" and "behold" means "see" or "observe."
- I was in Vienna sitting quietly in a café when, lo and behold, my cousin walked in.
- Lo and behold!There is Fred!He beat us here by taking a shortcut.
- I was searching for my lost keys, and lo and behold, I found them under the couch.
- We thought the project was doomed, but lo and behold, we managed to complete it ahead of schedule.
- As we were exploring the forest, lo and behold, we stumbled upon a hidden waterfall.