кто бы мог подумать!

• КТО БЫ МОГ ПОДУМАТЬ!; КТО БЫ ПОДУМАЛ! both coll

[sent; these forms only; used as Interj or indep. clause foll. by a что-clause; fixed WO]

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⇒ it is hard to believe (that the situation has turned out this way), no one could ever have predicted (that things would turn out this way):

- who would (ever) have thought?;

- who could have imagined?;

- it's hard to believe!;

- I never would have guessed!;

- (just) imagine!;

- [used as Interj only] what do you know!;

- imagine that!;

- incredible!

     ♦ [Сарафанов:] Нина! У меня никакого сомнения! Он твой брат!.. Боже мой... Ну кто бы мог подумать? (Вампилов 4). [S.:] Nina! I don't have any doubts at all! He's your brother!...My God. ...Well, who would ever have thought? (4b).

     ♦ ...Кто бы мог подумать, что Варвара не одна дома? А она таки действительно была не одна - с Анисьей Лобановой (Абрамов 1). Who could have imagined that Varvara would not be alone in the house? But in fact, she was not alone; she was with Anisya Lobanova (1a).