60 Idioms for Unbelievable

Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful, exciting, and full of life. Today, you are going to learn a bunch of helpful idioms that all have to do with unbelievable things, shocking surprises, and hard-to-believe stories.

In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for unbelievable that mean shocking, astonishing, and hard to believe. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.

Idioms for Unbelievable

1. Hard to swallow

Meaning: A story or statement that is very difficult to believe is true.

For Example: His excuse about a dog eating his homework felt a bit hard to swallow. / The tale of finding a treasure chest in the backyard sounded hard to swallow.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable / Doubtful

2. Pulling the other one

Meaning: An expression used to say you don’t believe a wild or silly story someone just told.

For Example: He said he won a pet dinosaur, and she laughed, telling him he was pulling the other one. / You found a gold coin in the sandbox? Pulling the other one!

Other Ways to Say: You are joking / Hard to believe

3. Pulling someone’s leg

Meaning: Teasing someone with a playful, unbelievable story or joke.

For Example: He said a spaceship landed on the playground, but he was just pulling your leg. / Don’t believe his wild story because he’s pulling your leg.

Other Ways to Say: Tease / Joke around

4. Fish story

Meaning: An exaggerated and unbelievable tale about catching fish or other events.

For Example: Grandpa told a grand fish story about catching a fish as big as a boat. / Nobody believed his fish story about the monster in the lake.

Other Ways to Say: Tall tale / Exaggerated story

5. Tall story

Meaning: An unbelievable, exaggerated story that sounds completely made up.

For Example: He told a tall story about flying across the city on a kite. / Sharing tall stories around the campfire is a fun camping tradition.

Other Ways to Say: Exaggeration / Made-up tale

6. Out of this world

Meaning: Something so amazing and incredible that it seems unbelievable.

For Example: The chocolate chip cookies mom baked tasted completely out of this world. / The special effects in the science fiction movie were out of this world.

Other Ways to Say: Incredible / Amazing

7. Beyond belief

Meaning: So extreme, strange, or wonderful that it is hard to accept as real.

For Example: The size of the giant pumpkin at the fair was beyond belief. / His luck in winning two raffles in a row felt beyond belief.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable / Incredible

8. Hard to credit

Meaning: Information that is too shocking or strange to accept easily.

For Example: Winning the grand prize on his first try was hard to credit. / The sudden weather change felt hard to credit.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable / Hard to believe

9. Straining credulity

Meaning: A story that pushes the limits of what people can believe.

For Example: Saying a dog drove the family car was really straining credulity. / His explanation for missing the bus was straining credulity.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable / Far-fetched

10. Far-fetched

Meaning: An idea or story that is too unlikely and unbelievable to be true.

For Example: Building a rocket ship out of cardboard boxes sounded a bit far-fetched. / Her excuse for losing her pencil was too far-fetched.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable / Unrealistic

11. Stretch of the imagination

Meaning: Something that requires a lot of extra thinking to consider possible.

For Example: Calling his messy room clean required a big stretch of the imagination. / Imagining cats could talk takes a stretch of the imagination.

Other Ways to Say: Exaggeration / Unlikely idea

12. Mind-boggling

Meaning: Something so huge, complex, or unbelievable that it shocks the brain.

For Example: Learning how many stars exist in the universe is mind-boggling. / The speed of modern computers feels completely mind-boggling.

Other Ways to Say: Astonishing / Incomprehensible

13. Mind-blowing

Meaning: An unbelievable experience that amazes and shocks you completely.

For Example: The magician’s final disappearing act was a mind-blowing trick. / Seeing the grand canyon in person was a mind-blowing experience.

Other Ways to Say: Astounding / Incredible

14. Blow your mind

Meaning: To experience extreme shock and amazement at something unbelievable.

For Example: Learning how big the universe is will totally blow your mind. / The special effects in the movie blew our minds.

Other Ways to Say: Amaze / Shock with wonder

15. Hard to swallow pill

Meaning: A harsh truth or unbelievable fact that is painful to accept.

For Example: Realizing his team lost the championship was a hard to swallow pill. / Missing the field trip due to illness felt like a hard to swallow pill.

Other Ways to Say: Tough truth / Bitter reality

16. In your dreams

Meaning: An expression used to say something unbelievable will never actually happen.

For Example: He thought he could beat the track champion, and friends said, in your dreams! / Winning a million dollars without trying is in your dreams.

Other Ways to Say: Never happening / Unlikely

17. Once in a blue moon Meaning: An event that happens so rarely it feels almost unbelievable.

Meaning: An event that happens so rarely it feels almost unbelievable.

For Example: Seeing snow fall in our warm southern town happens once in a blue moon. / We only get to visit that awesome theme park once in a blue moon.

Other Ways to Say: Very rarely / Seldom

18. Bolt from the blue Meaning: A complete surprise event that happens with zero warning.

Meaning: A complete surprise event that happens with zero warning.

For Example: The news that our family was moving across the country came like a bolt from the blue. / Winning the grand prize was like a bolt from the blue.

Other Ways to Say: Complete surprise / Unexpected shock

19. Out of the blue Meaning: Happening completely unexpectedly like an unbelievable shock.

Meaning: Happening completely unexpectedly like an unbelievable shock.

For Example: A friendly greeting from his old classmate came right out of the blue. / The snow day announcement arrived out of the blue on Tuesday morning.

Other Ways to Say: Unexpectedly / Suddenly

20. Like a fairy tale Meaning: An event or outcome so wonderful it feels unbelievable.

Meaning: An event or outcome so wonderful it feels unbelievable.

For Example: Winning the championship game in the final second felt like a fairy tale. / Their trip to the magical castle felt like a fairy tale.

Other Ways to Say: Magical / Unbelievable story

21. Too good to be true Meaning: Something so wonderful that you suspect it might be fake or unbelievable.

Meaning: Something so wonderful that you suspect it might be fake or unbelievable.

For Example: Winning a brand new bicycle for one ticket sounded too good to be true. / Finding a twenty-dollar bill on the sidewalk seemed too good to be true.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable luck / Suspiciously great

22. Hard to credit story Meaning: An account of events that defies normal belief.

Meaning: An account of events that defies normal belief.

For Example: His hard to credit story about meeting a famous actor surprised us. / The explorer shared a hard to credit story about the jungle.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable tale / Strange account

23. Unfathomable Meaning: Something so strange or deep that it cannot be understood or believed easily.

Meaning: Something so strange or deep that it cannot be understood or believed easily.

For Example: The depth of the dark ocean trench seemed unfathomable to the students. / The complexity of the ancient puzzle felt unfathomable.

Other Ways to Say: Incomprehensible / Unbelievable

24. Incredible Meaning: Impossible or very difficult to believe; extraordinary.

Meaning: Impossible or very difficult to believe; extraordinary.

For Example: The gymnast performed an incredible series of flips across the mat. / His score on the difficult science test was truly incredible.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable / Astonishing

25. Astonishing Meaning: Extremely surprising or difficult to believe; amazing.

Meaning: Extremely surprising or difficult to believe; amazing.

For Example: The speed at which the cheetah ran was astonishing to watch. / Finding a fossil in the backyard was an astonishing discovery.

Other Ways to Say: Amazing / Shocking

26. Astounding Meaning: Providing wonder and shock because it is so unbelievable.

Meaning: Providing wonder and shock because it is so unbelievable.

For Example: The painting looked so real that the detail was astounding. / Her ability to solve math equations instantly was astounding.

Other Ways to Say: Incredible / Stunned

27. Staggering Meaning: So great, shocking, or extreme that it is hard to believe.

Meaning: So great, shocking, or extreme that it is hard to believe.

For Example: The staggering number of books in the library amazed the young reader. / Losing the game by one point was a staggering defeat.

Other Ways to Say: Shocking / Overwhelming

28. Stunned Meaning: So shocked and surprised that you can hardly believe your eyes.

Meaning: So shocked and surprised that you can hardly believe your eyes.

For Example: He stood stunned when his name was called for the grand prize. / The audience sat stunned after the incredible magic trick.

Other Ways to Say: Shocked / Amazed

29. Flabbergasted Meaning: Greatly surprised, astonished, and unable to believe what happened.

Meaning: Greatly surprised, astonished, and unable to believe what happened.

For Example: He was flabbergasted when he saw the massive Lego castle his friend built. / The teacher looked flabbergasted when every student aced the test.

Other Ways to Say: Astonished / Shocked

30. Dumbfounded Meaning: So surprised and unbelievable that you do not know what to say.

Meaning: So surprised and unbelievable that you do not know what to say.

For Example: Finding his lost toy buried in the yard left him dumbfounded. / The class sat dumbfounded during the amazing science demonstration.

Other Ways to Say: Astounded / Speechless

31. Jaw-dropping Meaning: An event so shocking and unbelievable your mouth drops open.

Meaning: An event so shocking and unbelievable your mouth drops open.

For Example: The acrobat performed a jaw-dropping flip high above the net. / The size of the prize box created a jaw-dropping moment.

Other Ways to Say: Astonishing / Incredible

32. Outrageous Meaning: Shockingly unacceptable, surprising, or unbelievable.

Meaning: Shockingly unacceptable, surprising, or unbelievable.

For Example: Claiming that dogs can fly airplanes sounded completely outrageous. / His outrageous excuse for missing chores made everyone laugh.

Other Ways to Say: Shocking / Unbelievable

33. Preposterous Meaning: Completely contrary to common sense; utterly absurd and unbelievable.

Meaning: Completely contrary to common sense; utterly absurd and unbelievable.

For Example: Wearing winter snow boots to the sandy beach is a preposterous idea. / His preposterous story about catching a whale in a pond made us giggle.

Other Ways to Say: Absurd / Ridiculous

34. Absurd Meaning: Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or unbelievable.

Meaning: Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or unbelievable.

For Example: Expecting to finish a hundred-page book in ten minutes is absurd. / Wearing a winter coat in July weather is absurd.

Other Ways to Say: Ridiculous / Unbelievable

35. Ludicrous Meaning: So foolish, unreasonable, or out of touch that it is unbelievable.

Meaning: So foolish, unreasonable, or out of touch that it is unbelievable.

For Example: Asking a toddler to solve high school calculus is ludicrous. / His claim that aliens stole his homework was ludicrous.

Other Ways to Say: Ridiculous / Absurd

36. Incredible journey Meaning: A travel experience so amazing it feels hard to believe.

Meaning: A travel experience so amazing it feels hard to believe.

For Example: Reading stories about sailors crossing the stormy ocean feels like an incredible journey. / Our family cross-country road trip was an incredible journey.

Other Ways to Say: Amazing trip / Unbelievable adventure

37. Miracle Meaning: An extraordinary and welcome event that seems impossible.

Meaning: An extraordinary and welcome event that seems impossible.

For Example: Finding his lost puppy after three days felt like a complete miracle. / Scoring the winning goal in the final second was a miracle.

Other Ways to Say: Wonder / Amazing event

38. Magic Meaning: Mysterious powers or events that defy natural belief.

Meaning: Mysterious powers or events that defy natural belief.

For Example: The stage illusionist made the coin vanish as if by real magic. / Watching the colorful fireworks light up the night felt like magic.

Other Ways to Say: Wonder / Illusion

39. Marvel Meaning: A wonderful thing that causes great astonishment and belief issues.

Meaning: A wonderful thing that causes great astonishment and belief issues.

For Example: The ancient stone castle was an architectural marvel to see. / Modern smartphones are a technological marvel.

Other Ways to Say: Wonder / Amazing thing

40. Phenomenon Meaning: A remarkable and unbelievable event or fact observed in nature.

Meaning: A remarkable and unbelievable event or fact observed in nature.

For Example: The colorful northern lights are a stunning natural phenomenon. / Watching a total solar eclipse is a rare phenomenon.

Other Ways to Say: Wonder / Remarkable event

41. Wonder Meaning: A feeling of surprise and admiration caused by something beautiful.

Meaning: A feeling of surprise and admiration caused by something beautiful.

For Example: The children stared at the starry night sky with pure wonder. / Visiting the grand museum filled her with wonder.

Other Ways to Say: Awe / Amazement

42. Eye-opener Meaning: A surprising event that reveals an unbelievable truth.

Meaning: A surprising event that reveals an unbelievable truth.

For Example: Seeing how fast the river rose during the storm was an eye-opener. / Learning how complicated computer code works was a true eye-opener.

Other Ways to Say: Surprising lesson / Revealing moment

43. Revelation Meaning: A surprising and previously unknown fact that is shocking.

Meaning: A surprising and previously unknown fact that is shocking.

For Example: Finding out his best friend played guitar too was a cool revelation. / The mystery book ended with a shocking revelation.

Other Ways to Say: Discovery / Surprising fact

44. Plot twist Meaning: An unexpected change in a story that shocks the reader.

Meaning: An unexpected change in a story that shocks the reader.

For Example: The mystery novel ended with an unbelievable plot twist. / Finding out the hero was actually the helper was a great plot twist.

Other Ways to Say: Story surprise / Unexpected turn

45. Shocker Meaning: An extremely surprising and unbelievable piece of news.

Meaning: An extremely surprising and unbelievable piece of news.

For Example: Hearing that our school won the grand prize was a total shocker. / The sudden weather change came as a major shocker.

Other Ways to Say: Surprise news / Astonishing event

46. Unreal Meaning: So strange or wonderful that it seems like a dream.

Meaning: So strange or wonderful that it seems like a dream.

For Example: Winning the art contest trophy felt completely unreal to her. / Standing next to the massive dinosaur skeleton felt unreal.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable / Like a dream

47. Surreal Meaning: Having the disorienting, dreamlike quality of something unbelievable.

Meaning: Having the disorienting, dreamlike quality of something unbelievable.

For Example: Walking through the thick morning fog felt strange and surreal. / Seeing his own painting hanging in the gallery felt surreal.

Other Ways to Say: Dreamlike / Unbelievable

48. Bizarre Meaning: Extremely strange, unusual, or unbelievable in appearance.

Meaning: Extremely strange, unusual, or unbelievable in appearance.

For Example: The puppy wore a funny raincoat that looked quite bizarre. / Finding a glowing rock in the garden seemed bizarre.

Other Ways to Say: Strange / Unusual

49. Weird and wonderful Meaning: Strange yet amazing things that feel hard to believe.

Meaning: Strange yet amazing things that feel hard to believe.

For Example: The science museum featured weird and wonderful exhibits about space. / Exploring the tide pools revealed weird and wonderful creatures.

Other Ways to Say: Strange and amazing / Oddly great

50. Peculiar Meaning: Strange or odd in a way that catches your attention.

Meaning: Strange or odd in a way that catches your attention.

For Example: The old clock made a peculiar clicking sound before chiming. / Hearing a cat bark like a dog is a peculiar event.

Other Ways to Say: Odd / Strange

51. Oddity Meaning: A strange or unbelievable person, object, or event.

Meaning: A strange or unbelievable person, object, or event.

For Example: Finding a three-legged stool at the antique shop made it an oddity. / The strangely shaped pumpkin was a fun garden oddity.

Other Ways to Say: Strange item / Curiosity

52. Odd as fiction Meaning: Real-life events that sound stranger than made-up stories.

Meaning: Real-life events that sound stranger than made-up stories.

For Example: His true story of escaping the rainstorm sounded as odd as fiction. / History books are filled with tales as odd as fiction.

Other Ways to Say: Strange truth / Unbelievable reality

53. Stranger than fiction Meaning: Real events that are more unbelievable than storybooks.

Meaning: Real events that are more unbelievable than storybooks.

For Example: The coincidence of meeting his cousin in a foreign city was stranger than fiction. / Real-life animal friendships can often be stranger than fiction.

Other Ways to Say: Unbelievable reality / Strange truth

54. Hard to swallow fact Meaning: A truth that is very difficult to accept or believe.

Meaning: A truth that is very difficult to accept or believe.

For Example: Realizing summer vacation was ending felt like a hard to swallow fact. / Losing the close game was a hard to swallow fact.

Other Ways to Say: Tough truth / Unbelievable reality

55. Hard pill to swallow Meaning: An unpleasant fact that you must accept eventually.

Meaning: An unpleasant fact that you must accept eventually.

For Example: Having to practice piano instead of playing games was a hard pill to swallow. / Apologizing for the mistake was a hard pill to swallow.

Other Ways to Say: Tough reality / Unpleasant truth

56. Uncanny Meaning: Strange or mysterious in an unsettling, unbelievable way.

Meaning: Strange or mysterious in an unsettling, unbelievable way.

For Example: The two cousins shared an uncanny resemblance to each other. / He had an uncanny ability to guess the correct card.

Other Ways to Say: Eerie / Mysterious

57. Spooky Meaning: Strange and frightening in a way that feels hard to explain.

Meaning: Strange and frightening in a way that feels hard to explain.

For Example: Walking down the dark hallway at night felt a bit spooky. / Hearing strange scratching noises in the attic was spooky.

Other Ways to Say: Creepy / Mysterious

58. Eerie Meaning: Strange and frightening, creating a sense of disbelief.

Meaning: Strange and frightening, creating a sense of disbelief.

For Example: The empty playground at midnight had an eerie quietness to it. / Hearing an owl hoot in the fog felt eerie.

Other Ways to Say: Spooky / Creepy

59. Unearthly Meaning: So strange or unnatural that it seems unbelievable.

Meaning: So strange or unnatural that it seems unbelievable.

For Example: The glowing jellyfish in the deep aquarium had an unearthly beauty. / We heard an unearthly howling sound during the windstorm.

Other Ways to Say: Supernatural / Strange

60. Pure disbelief Meaning: The absolute peak state of finding something completely unbelievable.

Meaning: The absolute peak state of finding something completely unbelievable.

For Example: Winning the grand raffle prize left the room in pure disbelief. / Staring at the massive trophy filled him with pure disbelief.

Other Ways to Say: Total shock / Complete amazement

Exercise to Practice

1. His excuse about a dog eating his homework felt a bit hard to ________.
2. He said he won a pet dinosaur, and she laughed, telling him he was pulling the other ________.
3. He said a spaceship landed on the playground, but he was just pulling your ________.
4. Grandpa told a grand fish ________ about catching a fish as big as a boat.
5. He told a tall ________ about flying across the city on a kite.
6. The chocolate chip cookies mom baked tasted completely out of this ________.
7. The size of the giant pumpkin at the fair was beyond ________.
8. Winning the grand prize on his first try was hard to ________.
9. Saying a dog drove the family car was really straining ________.
10. Building a rocket ship out of cardboard boxes sounded a bit far-________.
11. Calling his messy room clean required a big stretch of the ________.
12. Learning how big the universe is was mind-________.
13. The magician’s final disappearing act was a mind-________ trick.
14. Learning how big the universe is will totally blow your ________.
15. Realizing his team lost the championship was a hard to swallow ________.

Answer Key

1. swallow
2. one
3. leg
4. story
5. story
6. world
7. belief
8. credit
9. credulity
10. fetched
11. imagination
12. boggling
13. blowing
14. mind
15. pill

Conclusion

Learning idioms for unbelievable helps you understand stories, surprise moments, and everyday expressions of shock much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to describe jaw-dropping surprises and wild tales in your own writing.

Try using a few of these expressions the next time you hear an amazing story or experience a surprise. Practicing them out loud is a great way to remember them and make your communication sound awesome.