What does this phrase mean lo and behold?

What does this phrase mean lo and behold?

‘Lo and behold’ is an idiom used to express surprise or wonder. It literally means ‘look and see! ‘ As such, you would usually use it to tell someone about something surprising. For instance: Leo opened the safe, but, lo and behold, the money was gone!

How do you use lo and behold in a sentence?

Lo and behold or lo is used to emphasize a surprising event that is about to be mentioned, or to emphasize in a humorous way that something is not surprising at all. He called the Minister of the Interior and, lo and behold, the prisoners were released. I looked and lo! every one of the men had disappeared.

Can you start a sentence with lo and behold?

But, lo and behold, when they went to move in, they found that the houses had been occupied by squatters. He had the presence of mind or the good sense to leave the water there, and lo and behold! After 200 days had passed, lo and behold, there were considerable changes to the policy.

What does Lo and behold mean in the Bible?

look! see
look! see! (frequently used in Biblical expressions; now usually used as an expression of surprise in the phrase lo and behold ).

What is the meaning of the phrase Lo and behold?

A phrase used to indicate something surprising or unexpected. I’d been searching for my glasses all over the house when, lo and behold, they were on my head the whole time. Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

How old is the word’lo’in English?

Can you believe it! The very old word lo, which means “look” or “see,” today survives only in this tautological imperative, which dates from the mid-nineteenth century and is nearly always used lightly.

When did Lo and behold emerge from obscurity?

Lo and behold, the mumbling tennis star turned up at Wimbledon clean-shaven. Lo and behold, he emerged from obscurity in 1995 as a member of the European Parliament, followed shortly by appointment as European Commisioner.