in for a (shock/surprise)
Meaning(s)
1. used for saying that an experience in the future will likely be different to how someone imagines it
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
if you think that's easy, you will be in for a shock/surprise
Analysis
The expression to be 'in with a shock' or 'in for a surprise' is usually used in a negative way in order to express that someone has an inaccurate view of events or is overly confident or optimistic about something which is likely to have a very different outcome than they expect.
Social Examples (Basic)
- If you think parenting is easy then you will be in for a shock when you have kids of your own!
- You are in for a shock if you think finishing an MA will be easy.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- The teacher is going to be in for a surprise when she takes over her new class. Some of the students are very badly behaved.
- Even though Frank is a talented medical student, he is in for a big shock when he starts actually working in a hospital because no amount of training can fully prepare you for the real thing.