never ever imagined

USAGE SUMMARY

"never ever imagined" is a grammatically correct phrase that is commonly used in spoken and written English.
It is used to emphasize that something was extremely surprising or unexpected. Example: "I never ever imagined that I would win the lottery, but it happened!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Personal Narratives

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

I never ever imagined I would go to prison.

The Guardian - Opinion

Herbert, who has penned 24 novels in the past three decades, said: "I never ever imagined I would get one, particularly because I write horror stories and I didn't know [they were] particularly respected in this country.

Independent

Corden said it had been a risk to bring a "ridiculously silly play" to the US but "the audiences here have embraced our show like we never ever imagined they could.

Independent

"I never, ever imagined one would have that many receptions," says Ken Herock, a professional tight end for six seasons in the 1960s who has since worked as an N.F.L. scout, coach, personnel director, general manager and predraft tutor.

The New York Times - Sports

When I started photographing, in 1996, I never, ever imagined myself becoming a conflict photographer; I was always interested in international politics, news, social trends, and humanitarian issues, but didn't think I would have the courage to cover war.

The New Yorker

Not only have they managed to contribute to a climate in which human rights can be violated in far worse ways than they were under Saddam's Ba'athist regime, they have actually driven Iraqis, all Iraqis, into openly stating that life was much better under Saddam, something that this writer, like most Iraqis, never, ever imagined possible only a few years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"You can never ever imagine a race like today and what happened throughout the race," Hamilton said.

The New York Times - Sports

I mean, even though it does happen to younger people, you just never ever imagine it will happen to you.

The Guardian

"I could never, ever imagine him doing something like that to our daughter.

Vice

"And instead of me losing my life -- here I was the lonely, widowed, drug-addict mom who deserved death -- but God gave me a brand new life, one that I could never, ever imagine, as a result of just giving my life to Him.

Huffington Post

[Heterosexual male, 19 years old, with syphilis] "I could never, ever imagine this.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never ever imagined" to emphasize genuine surprise or disbelief, especially when recounting personal experiences or reactions to unexpected events.

Common error

While effective for emphasis, avoid overusing "never ever imagined" in formal contexts. Opt for more nuanced alternatives like "never anticipated" or "had not foreseen" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never ever imagined" functions as an emphatic expression of disbelief or surprise. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in conveying a strong sense of unexpectedness regarding a particular event or outcome.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Huffington Post

16%

Independent

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

8%

The New Yorker

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "never ever imagined" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey strong surprise or disbelief. As confirmed by Ludwig, it emphasizes the unexpected nature of an event or outcome. While suitable for various contexts, it's most frequently found in News & Media and personal narratives. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "never anticipated" to maintain a professional tone. Its function is to emphasize astonishment, adding emotional weight to a statement. While this expression is commonly used, it's important to consider that there exist other alternatives that can replace the main query. For example, it is possible to use "never dreamed" to express a lack of prior expectation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

never expected

A common alternative expressing surprise.

never suspected

Implies a lack of prior suspicion about the event.

never dreamed

Less emphatic, expressing a lack of prior expectation.

never anticipated

More formal, indicating a lack of foresight.

couldn't have foreseen

Emphasizes the impossibility of predicting the event.

beyond my wildest dreams

Highlights the positive and unexpected nature of the event.

unimaginable

Stresses the impossibility of conceiving the event beforehand.

never conceived of

Formal alternative, denoting a complete lack of prior thought.

never reckoned with

Indicates a failure to consider the possibility.

had no inkling

Suggests a complete absence of awareness or suspicion.

FAQs

How can I use "never ever imagined" in a sentence?

You can use "never ever imagined" to express extreme surprise or disbelief about a situation. For example: "I "never ever imagined" I would get the promotion!"

What's a less emphatic way to say "never ever imagined"?

If you want to express surprise with less intensity, you can use phrases like "never expected", or "never dreamed".

Which is more appropriate, "never ever imagined" or "never imagined"?

"Never ever imagined" is more emphatic than "never imagined". Use "never ever imagined" when you want to strongly emphasize your surprise or disbelief.

What can I say instead of "never ever imagined" in a formal setting?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "never anticipated", "had not foreseen", or "could not have predicted".