all of a sudden
Entirely without warning, abruptly, as in All of a sudden the lights went out. In Shakespeare's day the common phrase was of a sudden, the word all being added in the late 1600s. Also see all at once, def. 2.
Words Nearby all of a sudden
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
How to use all of a sudden in a sentence
All-of-a-sudden Jehosophat felt very funny near the pit of his stomach.
Seven O'Clock Stories | Robert Gordon AndersonIt was a new, all-of-a-sudden gray, and in less than a week—so Margaret once told me—bleaching its brown gold to silver.
The Little Gray Lady | F. Hopkinson SmithAnd Marmaduke liked all-of-a-sudden things to happen--they were so exciting.
Half-Past Seven Stories | Robert Gordon AndersonAnd all-of-a-sudden Fatty let go of his coat, and Jehosophat found himself on his feet and on his way to the platform.
Half-Past Seven Stories | Robert Gordon AndersonThen all-of-a-sudden, from somewhere above them on the outside of the Earth, they heard a great roar.
Half-Past Seven Stories | Robert Gordon Anderson
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