Etymology Journal ยท W
Would you believe it?
Meaning
- An incredulous phrase used to express shock at a situation. It is usually rhetorical, as the speaker is about to tell you something unbelievable.
Animated, inquisitive
Used in a sentence
- I lost my keys in the fridge, would you believe it?
- Would you believe it, she won the lottery on her first try.
- It started snowing in July, would you believe it?
The backstory
This is a common conversational filler derived from traditional storytelling. It encourages the listener to engage with the surprising news being shared.
Heard in
Nationwide
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