# quelle surprise

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/quelle-surprise
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

What a surprise.

## Examples

- He forgot his keys again, quelle surprise.
- The train is delayed for the third time this week, quelle surprise.
- When the politician broke his campaign promise yet again, the cynical voters merely sighed, quelle surprise.

## Origin

Borrowed from the French *quelle surprise*, literally "what a surprise." The expression entered English usage as a loanphrase, retained in its original form to convey a specific tone of weary irony regarding an outcome that was, in fact, entirely expected.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.