# well, I never

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/well-i-never
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An exclamation of great surprise.

## Examples

- Well, I never! I did not expect to see you here.
- When she told me she had won the lottery, I could only say, well, I never.
- Upon hearing the scandalous news that had been hidden for decades, he simply gasped, well, I never.

---

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.