be less than surprised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be less than surprised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that you are not surprised by something, often implying that the outcome was expected. Example: "Given his history of late arrivals, I would be less than surprised if he showed up an hour late again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Absent a more comprehensive and insightful approach to this social plague, we will continue to hope for the best -- at least that the next slaughter does not occur at our children's school -- but be less than surprised when we experience the worst...over and over again.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For her part, McElhaney, the drug diversion investigator, was less than surprised to learn thieves had broken into 46 pharmacies in south Florida.

Vice

Though it was offered in confidence, word of the appeal circulated quickly in the well-sourced nexus of journalists and government officials who earn their living in the law enforcement world -- and three weeks later, when Mr. Miller went on the air and confirmed that he was indeed leaving his job at CBS to rejoin Mr. Bratton, David Rhodes, the president of CBS News, was less than surprised.

Huffington Post

Although we expected the situation to be less than optimal, it was a surprise to find that the index drugs were on average unavailable to patients at health centres for six months out of a year in the case of pneumonia drugs and for three months out of a year in the case of anti-malarial drugs.

BMC Health Services Research

So it was less than a surprise yesterday when a four-way mayoral debate repeatedly turned into a two-way squabble between Mr. Vallone, the City Council speaker, and Mr. Hevesi, the city comptroller, over the same sliver of the pie.

The New York Times

That so many have so visibly focused on banking and real estate problems for so long almost guarantees their impact being less than a surprise and already fully "in the market".

Forbes

Taken together, the investigations suggest that the deadly crash last month of the Andrew J. Barberi, which killed 10 passengers, was less than a complete surprise.

The New York Times

Yet it's less than 10 years since surprise releases became "a thing" for the record industry, kickstarted by an act of defiance by a huge band.

The Guardian - Music

It's still better than any other birth control method - your chances of a surprise are less than 1%.

The Guardian - Opinion

Clarity, spaciousness and purity of tone can be produced by top-end analogue amplifiers.Stuck with equipment that's less than ideal, it's no surprise that the vast majority of purists on either side of the tube-versus-transistor divide have their prejudices confirmed.

The Economist

"It's less than slag.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be less than surprised" to subtly indicate that an outcome was predictable, often implying a sense of resignation or inevitability. It's more nuanced than a simple "not surprised".

Common error

While "be less than surprised" can add nuance, avoid overusing such indirect phrases. In many cases, stating "I wasn't surprised" is clearer and more impactful. Ensure the indirectness serves a specific purpose, such as softening a negative reaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be less than surprised" functions as an idiomatic expression used to convey a state of minimal or absent surprise. It subtly indicates that an outcome was foreseeable or expected, often implying a sense of resignation. Ludwig AI confirms that is a correct and usable way to describe a lack of surprise.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be less than surprised" is a subtle way of expressing a lack of surprise, often suggesting an anticipated or predictable outcome. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this phrase is valid and usable in written English, indicating its acceptance in formal communication. The phrase functions to subtly indicate that an outcome was foreseeable or expected, often implying a sense of resignation. It is more sophisticated than simply saying "not surprised". Suitable alternatives include "not at all surprised" and "hardly surprised", offering more direct ways to express a similar sentiment. When using the phrase, be mindful of overusing indirect language and ensure it adds value to your writing by softening a negative reaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not at all surprised

More direct and emphatic in conveying lack of surprise.

Hardly surprised

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the minimal level of surprise felt.

Unsurprised

A more concise and straightforward way to express the same sentiment.

Not remotely surprised

Emphasizes a complete lack of surprise.

As expected

Indicates that an event occurred as anticipated, implying no surprise.

Predictably

Highlights the predictability of an event, making surprise unlikely.

It was no shock

A more informal way of saying something was not surprising.

Could have seen it coming

Suggests awareness or anticipation of an event before it happened.

I anticipated that

More formal and direct, indicating prior expectation.

It was foreseeable

Indicates the event was predictable based on available information.

FAQs

What does "be less than surprised" mean?

It means to not be particularly surprised by something, often suggesting the outcome was expected or predictable.

When is it appropriate to use "be less than surprised" in writing?

It's suitable when you want to express a lack of surprise with a hint of resignation or inevitability, often when something negative or undesirable was anticipated.

What are some alternatives to "be less than surprised"?

You can use alternatives like "not at all surprised", "hardly surprised", or "unsurprised" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "be less than surprised" and "not surprised"?

"Be less than surprised" implies a slightly stronger expectation of the outcome than simply "not surprised". It suggests you were anticipating the event to some degree.