of all places: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘of all places’ mean?
The idiom of all places is used to express surprise or disbelief when something unexpected or unusual happens in a particular location.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "why on Earth" is used to express surprise or confusion about something. It emphasizes the speaker's disbelief or curiosity at a particular situation or action.
The idiom "out of the blue" means something unexpected or surprising that happens suddenly, without any warning or explanation.
The idiom "out of nowhere" means something unexpectedly or suddenly appearing without any prior indication or warning.
The idiom "on stun" means to be surprised or shocked by something. It is often used to emphasize the level of surprise or shock.
The idiom "one of those things" refers to a situation or event that is out of one's control, often unexpected or difficult to explain or understand.
The idiom "one and all" means every single person or thing, without exception.
The idiom "of an" is used to emphasize a particular quality or characteristic of someone or something. It indicates that the quality being mentioned is extremely notable or outstanding.
The idiom "of all things" is used to express surprise or disbelief about something unexpected or unlikely. It emphasizes the unexpectedness of the thing being referred to.
The idiom "of all people" is used to express surprise or incredulity that a certain person would be involved in a particular situation, given their character, background, or expertise.
The idiom "of all loves" is used to show surprise or disbelief. It is a variation of the phrase "of all things" and is typically used to emphasize the unexpectedness of a situation or event.
Unlikely Locations
The idiom "of all things" is closely related to the phrase "of all places." Both idioms are used to express surprise or disbelief, but while "of all places" refers specifically to a location, "of all things" is used to emphasize the unexpectedness of an object or circumstance.
For example, imagine you are at a fancy dinner party, and the host serves hot dogs for the main course. You might exclaim, "Hot dogs for dinner? Of all things!" This usage suggests that hot dogs are an unusual or unexpected choice for a formal meal.
Similarly, in everyday conversation, you might say, "I ran into my ex-boyfriend at the grocery store. Of all things!" This conveys surprise or disbelief at the coincidence of encountering an ex-partner in such a mundane setting.
While "of all places" focuses on the location aspect, "of all things" highlights the specific object or circumstance that is unexpected. Both idioms serve to underscore the irony or incongruity of the situation.
The idiom "of all loves" is another variant of this expression. It is used to express surprise or disbelief at a particular person or thing being loved or cherished above all others.
For instance, imagine you are discussing your favorite types of music with a friend, and they reveal that they are a big fan of polka music. You might respond, "Polka music? Of all loves!" This emphasizes your surprise at the unexpected choice of polka music as a favorite.
Similarly, you might say, "Of all loves, she has chosen to become a beekeeper." This expresses astonishment or disbelief that someone would choose to pursue beekeeping as their passion or main interest.
The idiom "of all people" is another variation of this expression. It is used to express surprise or disbelief at a particular person being involved in a situation or exhibiting a certain behavior.
For example, imagine you are at a concert, and you see your normally reserved and serious boss dancing and singing along to the music. You might exclaim, "My boss? Of all people!" This portrays your surprise or incredulity at seeing your boss act in such an unexpected manner.
Similarly, you might say, "Of all people, she volunteered to lead the committee." This conveys surprise or disbelief that someone who is not typically enthusiastic about taking on leadership roles would offer to lead a committee.
The idioms "of all things," "of all loves," and "of all people" are closely related to the phrase "of all places." Each idiom expresses surprise or disbelief, but with a slightly different emphasis. "Of all things" highlights the unexpectedness of an object or circumstance, "of all loves" emphasizes surprise at a particular person or thing being loved, and "of all people" conveys astonishment at a person being involved in a situation or exhibiting a certain behavior. These idioms, including "of all places," provide linguistic tools to express surprise, emphasize unexpectedness, or convey incredulity in various contexts and settings.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "of all places" can be used in a sentence:
- He decided to open his new restaurant in a small village, of all places. (In this example, the phrase "of all places" is used to emphasize the unexpected or surprising choice of location for the restaurant.)
- She found her lost keys under the couch cushions, of all places. (Here, "of all places" adds emphasis to the fact that the keys were found in a particularly unlikely or unexpected location.)
- The dog decided to take a nap in the laundry basket, of all places. (In this sentence, the phrase "of all places" highlights the unexpected choice of the dog to sleep in the laundry basket instead of its usual bed or designated area.)
More "Location" idioms
