saw that coming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "saw that coming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing that you anticipated or predicted an event or outcome. Example: "When the company announced layoffs, I wasn't surprised; I saw that coming for months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Who saw that coming?

The New York Times

By John Cassidy February 7, 2012 Who saw that coming?

The New Yorker

Who saw that coming at 2am? 5.51am GMT WICKET!

The Guardian - Sport

"And I really believe that we saw that coming as a football staff and as an organization.

The New York Times - Sports

Yup, Gears of War 3. Who saw that coming?

TechCrunch

Ron Howard, the narrator: Who saw that coming?

TechCrunch

Marcus went on to become a gay golf caddy and I can genuinely say I never saw that coming.

Vice

But you know the book so well, you saw that coming, right?

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

It is the most hideous of ironies that an unstable individual saw that coming-together as his chance.

The New Yorker

Yeah, you saw that coming.

Vice

But they're not out of the ordinary, never-saw-that-coming set pieces.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "saw that coming" when you want to express that an event or outcome was predictable based on prior knowledge or circumstances. For more emphasis, you can include details that would indicate that was something foreseeable.

Common error

While widely understood, "saw that coming" is relatively informal. In professional or academic writing, consider using more formal alternatives like "anticipated that" or "predicted that" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "saw that coming" functions as an idiomatic expression used to convey a sense of anticipation or lack of surprise regarding an event or outcome. As Ludwig confirms, this is a commonly understood expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "saw that coming" is a common and understandable way to express a lack of surprise or prior anticipation of an event. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various sources. While generally suitable for informal and neutral contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferable in professional or academic writing. The expression is particularly prevalent in news and media, as well as sports-related content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could see it coming

Indicates an ability to foresee or anticipate an event.

anticipated that

Emphasizes a prior expectation or prediction of an event.

predicted that

Highlights the foretelling or forecasting of an event before it occurred.

expected that

Suggests a belief that something was likely to happen.

was not surprised

Focuses on the lack of astonishment at an event's occurrence.

was expecting it

Similar to 'expected that', but with more emphasis on the preparation.

knew it would happen

Implies a certainty about a future event.

had a feeling

Highlights an intuitive sense that something would occur.

it was foreseeable

Highlights that an event was predictable given the circumstances.

it was inevitable

Implies a sense of unavoidable certainty about an event.

FAQs

What does "saw that coming" mean?

The phrase "saw that coming" means that someone anticipated or expected a particular event or outcome. It suggests a lack of surprise because the result was predictable based on prior knowledge or circumstances.

How can I use "saw that coming" in a sentence?

You can use "saw that coming" to express that something was predictable to you. For example: "The company's stock price plummeted after the announcement; I "saw that coming" because their sales figures were declining for months."

What can I say instead of "saw that coming"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipated that", "predicted that", or "was not surprised" depending on the context.

Is "saw that coming" appropriate for formal writing?

While "saw that coming" is widely understood, it is relatively informal. In formal writing, it's best to use more professional alternatives such as "anticipated that" or "expected that".