English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
COMPOUND IDIOMS IN ENGLISH
I was preparing for a conference when, ~low and behold~, the letter of appointment came (nonstandard).
I was preparing for a conference when, *lo and behold*, the letter of appointment came (standard).
I was preparing for a conference when, *lo*, the letter of appointment came (standard).
Lo and behold or lo is used to emphasise a surprising event that is about to be mentioned, or to emphasise in a humorous way that something is not surprising at all.
He helps people but, ~funny enough~, he does not play with them (nonstandard).
He helps people but, *funnily enough*, he doesn’t play with them (standard).
You use funnily enough to indicate that, although something is surprising, it is true or really happened.
Some persons are ~stinkingly rich~, but you can’t ever know (nonstandard).
Some people are *stinking rich*, but you can’t ever know (standard).
Some people are *filthy rich*, but you can’t ever know (standard).
If you say that someone is filthy rich or stinky rich, you mean they have a lot of money.
GAB
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