Beggar belief

Definitions

• something is unbelievable or incomprehensible
  Expressing disbelief or confusion about a situation or statement that seems impossible or illogical

• something is beyond understanding or explanation
  Describing something that is so extraordinary or inexplicable that it defies logic and reasoning

Examples of Beggar belief

• The amount of snow that fell last night was unbelievable, it begs belief!

  This idiom implies that the quantity of snowfall left the speaker amazed and bewildered, making it hard to comprehend and believe.

• The marketer's ability to increase sales by 500% in just one quarter defies all human logic and beggars belief!

  This idiom emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the achievement and implies that it goes beyond what is normally expected or possible.

• The athlete's record-breaking time in the 100m finals was so fast, it's almost impossible to comprehend or even imagine, begging belief!

  This idiom highlights the extraordinary nature of the athlete's performance and implies that it's hard to accept or believe the speeds he or she was running.

• The behavior of some politicians in the past year has been so scandalous, it beggars belief!

  This idiom suggests that the actions taken by some politicians have been so outrageous and shocking that it's almost beyond human belief or comprehension.

• The sales figure for the new product line surpassed all expectations and literally beggared belief.

  This idiom is used to express that something happened that was beyond imaginable or completely unexpected. In this example, the sales figure exceeded all estimates, leaving people amazed and bewildered.

• She was given up for dead after the car accident, but somehow she managed to pull through, and it's still hard to believe she's alive.

  This idiom is used to express that something unexpected has happened, and the result is still hard to comprehend or accept.

• The meteorologist predicted a light snow for the weekend, but suddenly the forecast was changed to a blizzard that lasted for days, leaving everyone bewildered.

  This idiom is used to express that a sudden and unanticipated change occurred, which is unexpected and surprising.

• The cost of the renovation project skyrocketed far beyond what we estimated, begging belief.

  This idiom is used to express that something has exceeded the expected or anticipated costs, making it difficult to understand or explain.

Conclusion

The idiom "beggar belief" is often used to express disbelief or confusion about a situation or statement that seems impossible or illogical. It can also convey the idea that something is beyond understanding or explanation, suggesting that it is so extraordinary or inexplicable that it defies logic and reasoning.

Origin of "Beggar belief"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the 16th century, where the word "beggar" was used in a figurative sense to mean someone who is lacking or impoverished. The phrase "beggar belief" was first recorded in print in 1603 in William Shakespeare's play, "Measure for Measure." In this context, it was used to express disbelief and astonishment at something that seems unbelievable.

Over time, the phrase evolved to take on its current meaning of something that is impossible to believe or understand. It is often used as a hyperbolic expression to convey the extreme incredulity of a situation or statement. Some have also suggested that the use of the word "beggar" in this idiom may have been influenced by the similar phrase "beggars description," which is used to describe something that is indescribable.

In conclusion, the idiom "beggar belief" has a long history and has evolved to become a commonly used expression to convey disbelief and astonishment. Its origin can be traced back to Shakespearean times, and it continues to be used in modern English as a way to express the idea that something is beyond belief or comprehension.