a surprising performance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a surprising performance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a performance that is unexpected or exceeds expectations, often in contexts like theater, sports, or music. Example: "The actor delivered a surprising performance that left the audience in awe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Jack Bell BLACKBURN RE-SIGNS FRIEDEL: Goalkeeper Brad Friedel became the first member of the United States national team to profit from a surprising performance at the World Cup.

The New York Times - Sports

Technology stocks shot higher yesterday after investors witnessed a surprising performance in Intel and received some good news on the economy, and Wall Street, for a time, seemed confident that the presidential election stalemate might soon be over.

The New York Times

It's a surprising performance, given the IPO size and some of ZTO's financials.

TechCrunch

Do they vote specifically for what they believe is the best achievement of last year, a surprising performance and accomplishment or is it a cumulative assessment of someone's career?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Try to avoid potential one-year wonders- these players may be chosen high in the draft after a particularly surprising performance last year, but likely will not replicate said success.

WikiHow

It has all the Tarantino trademarks: a Mexican standoff, torrents of blood, long sequences of mayhem, a spaghetti western score, and a sly and surprising performance by Samuel L. Jackson, who has become for Mr. Tarantino roughly what Max von Sydow was for Ingmar Bergman.

The New York Times

The week before, Pranav Prem, a 6-year-old who lives in Ashburn, Va., turned in an even more surprising performance at the 45th Atlantic Open in Washington.

The New York Times

Analyst Christians Castillo said Morales's surprising performance was a sign of voter discontent, "a vote of punishment" against more traditional candidates.

The Guardian

When I asked Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas legislator, if Hezbollah's surprising performance against Israel was a source of humiliation for Hamas, he said, "One group has been living under constant Israeli occupation, the other has had six years without any kind of interference from the Jews.

The New Yorker

On Saturday head to Z-arts in Manchester for Emergency, a marathon mini festival of surprising performance and interventions.

The Guardian

Separate from those soap operas, the two silver medals that Mancuso won at the Vancouver Olympics will probably be remembered as the most surprising performance by a female Alpine skier.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a surprising performance", consider the specific aspect of the performance that was surprising (e.g., skill, creativity, innovation) to provide a more detailed and impactful description.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that a performance was 'surprising' without explaining why. Always provide context to clarify what made the performance unexpected or remarkable to prevent ambiguity and enhance reader understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a surprising performance" functions as a noun phrase, where 'surprising' modifies 'performance'. It describes the quality of a performance as being unexpected or exceeding expectations. As supported by Ludwig AI, it is used to indicate something that deviates from what one would typically anticipate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

23%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a surprising performance" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe an event that exceeds expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general discussions. When employing this phrase, providing context about what made the performance surprising is essential for clarity. Alternatives such as "an unexpected display" or "a remarkable showing" can be used to diversify your writing. Remember that the phrase carries a neutral tone and is suitable for both formal and informal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unexpected display

Replaces 'surprising' with 'unexpected' and 'performance' with 'display', focusing on the visual aspect of the event.

a remarkable showing

Substitutes 'surprising' with 'remarkable' and 'performance' with 'showing', highlighting the impressiveness of the act.

an astonishing feat

Replaces 'surprising performance' with 'astonishing feat', emphasizing the skill and difficulty involved.

an impressive accomplishment

Changes the focus to the outcome, portraying the performance as a notable achievement.

a stunning exhibition

Uses 'stunning' to amplify the impact and 'exhibition' to suggest a public display of skill.

an unforeseen triumph

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the success, replacing 'performance' with 'triumph'.

an exceptional effort

Focuses on the work put in, highlighting the unusual quality of the endeavor.

a noteworthy presentation

Replaces 'performance' with 'presentation', focusing on the manner in which it was delivered.

a breakthrough act

Highlights that this performance is a leap from something else.

a revelatory demonstration

Conveys that the performance revealed something new or significant.

FAQs

How can I use "a surprising performance" in a sentence?

You can use "a surprising performance" to describe an event that exceeded expectations. For example: "The new quarterback's debut was "a surprising performance", leading the team to victory."

What are some alternatives to "a surprising performance"?

Alternatives include "an unexpected display", "a remarkable showing", or "an astonishing feat". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always positive to describe something as "a surprising performance"?

While often positive, "a surprising performance" can also be neutral or even slightly negative if the surprise stems from something unexpected and undesirable. The context will determine the overall connotation.

What's the difference between "a surprising performance" and "an expected performance"?

"A surprising performance" implies that the outcome was not predicted or anticipated, often exceeding expectations. In contrast, "an expected performance" suggests the outcome was in line with what was predicted.