out of nowhere

Idioms  

1. Suddenly, unexpectedly, as in That anonymous letter turned up out of nowhere. It is often put as come out of nowhere, as in Their team came out of nowhere and won the state championship. This term uses out of in the sense of “from,” and nowhere in the sense of “an unknown place.” For a synonym, see out of a clear blue sky.

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Example Sentences

Principals who don’t act after multiple transfers seemingly out of nowhere start showing up to play football only have themselves to blame.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026

No amount of daily hydration stops the headaches that appear out of nowhere.

From Salon • Jun. 14, 2026

The rise in volatility didn’t come out of nowhere.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Behind a powerful yet athletic pack, player of the tournament Louis Bielle-Biarrey's ability to conjure magic out of nowhere translates as well from the French jersey to his club colours.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

A big grinning Ozark moon crawled up out of nowhere and seemed to say, “Hi, neighbor! I’ve been looking for you. It gets kind of lonesome out here. Welcome to the land of the Cherokee!”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls