PhrasesHub

To beggar belief

    Definitions

      • to be too extraordinary to believe
        Express disbelief or astonishment at something that is so unbelievable or incredible that it seems impossible

      • to surpass understanding
        Describe something that is so extreme or outlandish that it surpasses what can be comprehended or believed

    Examples of To beggar belief

    • The amount of food that jet-setters consume on a single flight is enough to feed a small village for a week. This fact truly begs the question, "How do they manage to fit all that food on a plane and still have enough room for the passengers?"

      The idiom "to beggar belief" is used to express something so extraordinary, surprising or unbelievable that it is hard to believe or understand. In this example, the vast quantity of food served on flights is so incredible that it is almost impossible to imagine or comprehend how it is possible to fit it all on a plane. This idiom shows that the amount of food served on planes is beyond the limits of what is reasonable or rational, and it raises serious questions about the logistics and practicality of serving such a large quantity of food to passengers.

    • She claimed to have memorized the entire Encyclopedia Britannica by the age of 10, which to beggar belief is an utterly unbelievable feat.

      This example shows how "to beggar belief" is used as a sentence modification phrases or idioms. This idiom means that something is so astonishing or incredible that it's beyond belief or comprehension. In this instance, the speaker is stating that the claim made by the person being discussed is so extraordinary that it's difficult to believe or accept as true.

    • Despite being a symphony orchestra for over two centuries, they won the Grammy Awards for the Best Chamber Music Performance in 2021, which to beggar belief is an unexpected and astonishing accomplishment for a classical ensemble.

      This example demonstrates how "to beggar belief" can be utilized as an adjectival phrase, modifying the noun following it. Here, the speaker is saying that the achievement of the classical ensemble in winning the Grammy Award for the Best Chamber Music Performance is so noteworthy and remarkable that it's beyond belief or expectation.

    • The team won all their games in the playoffs without conceding a single goal, which to beggar belief is an extraordinary feat in sports.

      In this example, "to beggar belief" is used in a sentence as a prepositional phrase, starting with the preposition 'which.' This prepositional phrase functions as an adjectival clause that modifies the noun 'feats' in the sentence. The speaker is stating that the achievement of the team in winning all their games in the playoffs while not conceding a single goal is an unbelievably incredible and stunning accomplishment in sports.

    • The computer system glitched so badly that it caused a massive data breach, which to beggar belief is a catastrophic event for any organization.

      This example is a variation of how "to beggar belief" can be employed as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb 'caused' in the sentence. The speaker is implying that the horrible malfunction of the computer system causing a colossal data breach is such a terrible and incredible event that it's beyond belief or imagination for any organization.

    • The sales figures for the first quarter exceeded expectations by a whopping 900%.

      This use of the idiom "to beggar belief" implies that the sales figures are so high that it is difficult to believe, almost to the point of being impossible to fathom.

    • The amount of food that the family of seven consumes every week is truly mind-boggling.

      This use of the idiom "to beggar belief" suggests that the quantity of food required to feed a family of seven is so enormous that it is difficult to comprehend or accept as true.

    • The distance that Marathon runners cover in a single race is simply unbelievable.

      This use of the idiom "to beggar belief" indicates that the length of the Marathon race, which is approximately 42 kilometers, is so lengthy that it is hard to believe or accept as real.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "to beggar belief" is used to express disbelief or astonishment at something that is so unbelievable or incredible that it seems impossible. It can also be used to describe something that is so extreme or outlandish that it surpasses what can be comprehended or believed.

    Origin of "To beggar belief"

    The origin of the idiom "to beggar belief" can be traced back to the 16th century. The word "beggar" in this context means to reduce someone to poverty or make them destitute. When used in the idiom, it suggests that something is so incredible that it reduces belief to a state of poverty or destitution. The phrase may have originated from the idea that something is so extraordinary that it bankrupts or impoverishes the ability to believe in it.

    Examples of this idiom can be found in literature and everyday speech, where it is used to convey the speaker's astonishment or disbelief at something that is beyond comprehension. Over time, the idiom has become a well-known expression for expressing incredulity at something that is too extraordinary to believe.