á dauða mínum átti ég von

Icelandic

Phrase

that's the last thing I expected, I am very surprised, I expected anything but this, I can't believe my own eyes
Á dauða mínum átti ég von en ekki þessu. ― That's the last thing I expected. / I literally never expected this could ever happen.

Á dauða mínum átti ég von frekar en að ég fengi þessi verðlaun. ― I never thought there was even a chance I could win this award.

Usage notes

This phrase, whose literal meaning is "I expected my own death, but not that this thing would ever occur", is used to express one's surprise in a melodramatic manner. It may also be used in a spiteful manner; even if the thing is good the person may be implying "I never expected that a deadbeat like you would even be capable of doing a beneficial thing".

Synonyms