of a sudden

Thân thiện

She stopped of a sudden when she heard a strange noise.

Definition

Adverb: Happening unexpectedly; without warning; in a sudden manner.

Usage

The phrase "of a sudden" is an adverbial phrase used to describe an action or event that occurs quickly and without any prior indication. It is synonymous with "suddenly" and is typically used in a slightly more formal or literary context. It modifies verbs to indicate the abrupt nature of an action.

Examples

• The sky darkened, and of a sudden, it began to pour.
• He was walking calmly when, of a sudden, he stopped and turned around.
• The peaceful meeting changed of a sudden into a heated argument.

Advanced Usage

• "All of a sudden": This is the far more common and standard form of the phrase in modern English. "Of a sudden" is considered an archaic or poetic shortening of "all of a sudden."
  • All of a sudden, the lights went out.
• The phrase is used to create a narrative shift, emphasizing a surprising or immediate change in a situation.

Variants and Related Words

• Suddenly (adv.): The standard, more frequent synonym.
• Abruptly (adv.): Happening quickly and without warning, often with a sense of rudeness or harshness.
• Unexpectedly (adv.): In a way that was not anticipated or foreseen.

Synonyms

Suddenly, abruptly, unexpectedly, instantly, immediately, all at once.

Related Phrases

• Out of the blue: Happening completely unexpectedly.
  • His resignation came out of the blue.
• On the spur of the moment: Done suddenly without planning.
  • We decided to go on a trip on the spur of the moment.

Notes

"Of a sudden" is an idiomatic adverbial phrase. While grammatically correct, in contemporary usage it is almost entirely superseded by "all of a sudden" or the single word "suddenly." Using "of a sudden" alone can sound old-fashioned or deliberately literary.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. happening unexpectedly
   • suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her side

Từ đồng nghĩa

• suddenly
• all of a sudden