“Believe it or not…”
Meaning: even though it is hard to believe it is true
Similar Expressions
- Believe it or not, she is single.
- Actually, she is single.
- It is hard to believe, but she is single.
When do we use it?
We use this before we say something that is hard to believe or before we say something that the listener will find surprising. This expression does not change the meaning of a sentence. It just shows that some surprising, but true information will be told. We use it to add feeling to our language.
- He has 10 brothers.
- Believe it or not, he has 10 brothers.
How do we use it?
We usually use this expression at the beginning of a sentence. If we are writing, then we put a comma after it.
- Believe it or not, I passed the test even though I didn’t study.
We can also add it to the end of a sentence when speaking.
- We sold our company for $10 million, believe it or not.
Example English Conversations
A) Believe it or not, I don’t have to work this weekend.
B) That is surprising. You usually have to work every weekend.
A) That guy is scary. Look at all his tattoos.
B) I know him. Believe it or not, he is a kindergarten teacher and he is very kind.
A) I would never have guessed that.
B) I know. I guess you can’t judge a book by its cover.
If you want to be great at speaking English, then you need to know a lot of English expressions, idioms, and slang. Studying with these free English lessons can help you do that. Study a few of these free English lessons each week and learn the expressions perfectly. If you do this consistently, then you will be amazed at how much your English vocabulary improves. You will be having fluent English conversations before you know it!
Expressions, Idioms, and Slang Index
