Meaning
It is completely expected.
Primary Function
Understatement for obvious expectation
Communicative Purpose
To comment that something was predictable, often critically or with a hint of irony.
Pattern
It’s hardly surprising that
Core Structure
It’s hardly surprising that
Função primária
Understatement for obvious expectation
Propósito comunicativo
To comment that something was predictable, often critically or with a hint of irony.
Situações de gatilho
When discussing analyses, news reports, or any context where an outcome is deemed inevitable.
Contextos
Academic discussions, professional reporting, casual conversation among those familiar with the situation.
Padrão
It’s hardly surprising that
Estrutura central
It’s hardly surprising that
Slots de substituição
extent can vary: hardly / scarcely / not at all surprising; clause content may be omitted or replaced with synonyms like ‘given’.
Colocados típicos
- It’s hardly surprising that…
- It is scarcely surprising that…
Substituições comuns
- No wonder…
- It’s no surprise that…
Erros comuns
Misinterpreting the double negative (learners might think it means something unexpected); using in contexts where the outcome was actually novel.
Similar / contraste
Small wonder ; It’s little wonder that…
Interferências
The word ‘hardly’ conveys near‑absence of surprise; learners from languages without a similar negation may confuse its meaning with positive expectation.
Família do chunk
- understatement expectation frames
Nuance
Carries an understated critical tone, implying mild disbelief or sarcasm about how predictable the result is.
Efeito pragmático
Signals to listeners/readers that the speaker views the event as unsurprising and possibly undeserved given context.
Dica de memória
“It’s hardly surprising that…”
Nota
This phrase is often used to express a sense of inevitability or predictability, and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Upgrade path
“Given the circumstances, it’s hardly surprising that he resigned.”
Log in to save chunks.