believe it or not — Used to introduce a statement that is surprising or hard to accept
Part of speech: INTERJECTION
Definition: Used to introduce a statement that is surprising or hard to accept
Pronunciation (IPA): /bɪˈliːv ɪt ɔːr nɑːt/
Example Sentences
- Believe it or not, my grandmother can still do backflips at 85.
- Believe it or not, I've never seen a single episode of that famous TV series.
- Believe it or not, he learned to speak Korean fluently in just six months.
believe it or not
INTERJECTION[/bɪˈliːv ɪt ɔːr nɑːt/]
Used to introduce a statement that is surprising or hard to accept
Believe it or not, my grandma just won the city marathon at age eighty.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase emerged in the 19th century as a colloquial expression of skepticism, but gained widespread popularity through Robert Ripley's famous syndicated cartoon series 'Ripley's Believe It or Not!' which debuted in 1918. The series showcased extraordinary and seemingly implausible facts, making the phrase a cultural fixture for introducing remarkable or hard-to-believe information.
Breakdown
believe (from Old English belyfan, to trust or have faith) + it (pronoun, referent object) + or (conjunction presenting alternatives) + not (negation). The phrase presents a binary choice between acceptance and rejection of a claim.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Believe it or not, my grandmother can still do backflips at 85.”
“Believe it or not, I've never seen a single episode of that famous TV series.”
“Believe it or not, he learned to speak Korean fluently in just six months.”
“Believe it or not, my cat can open doors and turn on the TV by itself.”
📚Related Words
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