present a surprise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "present a surprise" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of revealing or introducing something unexpected to someone. Example: "We decided to present a surprise for her birthday party, and everyone was thrilled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The company will present a surprise Christmas Eve show tonight, followed by a program that includes versions of "Swan Lake"(Act II), "Dying Swan" and a Pina Bausch sendup (Sunday).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Late that year, at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, the world's largest group for brain research, the Rutgers team presented a surprise finding that suggested that the scientists were zeroing in on the phenomenon's origins.

The New York Times

Which brings us to our second happy task of this editorial: our pride and pleasure in presenting a (Surprise!) Special Issue in honor of Eugenie Scott, Founding Director of the National Center for Science Education (and a founding member of our own editorial board!).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Approaching the wall as a simple light show presented a surprise to visitors: getting close to a screen would cause, based on its color, a tone to play, producing a chance melody as one would walk by.

Huffington Post

Special Feature: Martin Gardner's Life in Pictures I'm also honored to present an additional surprise this week — a slide show of Mr. Gardner with his family and friends that also includes personal reflections by Mr. Gardner's son Jim.

The New York Times

Since the end of last year, when this multi-party reelection alliance came together, rumours that it would present a bill for a surprise vote in Congress have run rampant.

Huffington Post

The afternoon presents a personal surprise... we drive to The Secret Camp, where Kim Jour-il, our guides tell us, was born in Japanese-occupied Korea on February 16 , 1942

Huffington Post

They have resisted redistricting reform, but it presented them a surprise gift when the new lines resulted in the retirement of both Gallegly and David Dreier, who represents the current 26th District, covering portions of the San Gabriel Valley and foothill communities.

Los Angeles Times

Never one for subtlety, Red or Dead designer Wayne Hemingway presented a few surprises to a packed house at London Fashion Week yesterday.

The Guardian

Yield varies greatly from country to country, and presents a few surprises.

Annals of Applied Biology

The award, sponsored by the Graduate Council's Advisory Committee for GSI Affairs and the GSI Teaching & Resource Center, is presented as a surprise in the faculty member's classroom, with the GSIs and other departmental faculty and staff present in the fall.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "present a surprise", ensure the context clearly indicates who is presenting and who is receiving the surprise. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating who the surprise is for. For example, instead of just saying 'They will "present a surprise",' specify 'They will "present a surprise" to the audience'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "present a surprise" functions as a verb phrase where 'present' is the verb, and 'a surprise' is the direct object. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "present a surprise" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe the act of revealing something unexpected. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is correct to use. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in academic, scientific and wiki sources. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding who is presenting and receiving the surprise. Alternatives such as "reveal a surprise" or "unveil a surprise" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unveil a surprise

Focuses on the act of revealing, often something previously hidden.

Reveal a surprise

Similar to 'unveil', but can also apply to discoveries and exposing secrets.

Offer a surprise

Emphasizes the act of giving or providing something unexpected.

Deliver a surprise

Highlights the act of bringing or conveying something unexpected.

Spring a surprise

Suggests a sudden or abrupt revelation of something unexpected.

Stage a surprise

Implies a planned or organized event designed to be unexpected.

Orchestrate a surprise

Suggests careful planning and coordination to create an unexpected event.

Lay a surprise on

Means to present something unexpected to someone.

Concoct a surprise

Implies creating or inventing something unexpected, often elaborate.

Prepare a surprise

Highlights the effort and planning involved in getting something unexpected ready.

FAQs

How can I use "present a surprise" in a sentence?

You can use "present a surprise" to describe the act of revealing something unexpected, such as "The company will "present a surprise" Christmas Eve show tonight." or "During a tour stop in D.C. on Nov. 17, Barack Obama made "a surprise appearance", presenting his wife with a bouquet of flowers".

What are some alternatives to "present a surprise"?

Alternatives include "reveal a surprise", "offer a surprise", or "unveil a surprise", each with slightly different connotations depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "give a surprise" instead of "present a surprise"?

While "give a surprise" is understandable, "present a surprise" is generally more formal and emphasizes the act of showing or introducing something unexpected in a deliberate manner.

What is the difference between "staging a surprise" and "presenting a surprise"?

"Staging a surprise" implies planning and organizing an unexpected event, while "presenting a surprise" simply means revealing something unexpected, whether planned or not.