Etymology Journal ยท W
Who would've thunk it?
Meaning
- A folksy, informal way of expressing surprise at an unexpected outcome. It is often used to comment on irony or improbable success.
Folksy, surprised
Used in a sentence
- Our high school team actually won the state championship; who would've thunk it?
- The old barn cat is best friends with the new puppy, who would've thunk it?
- I managed to fix the sink with duct tape and a prayer, who would've thunk it?
The backstory
This is a deliberate grammatical corruption of who would have thought it. The thunk variant adds a layer of self-deprecating, salt-of-the-earth flavor.
Heard in
Midwest
Vibe check