like a bolt out of the blue

like a bolt out of the blue

Unexpectedly or surprisingly; without warning. We always thought of Michael as a life-long bachelor, so it was like a bolt out of the blue when he returned from his vacation sporting a wedding ring! News that they were going to dissolve our company came like a bolt out of the blue. We're all still in shock from it.
See also: blue, bolt, like, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

like a bolt out of the blue

 and like a bolt from the blue
Fig. suddenly and without warning. (Alludes to a bolt of lightning coming out of a clear blue sky.) The news came to us like a bolt from the blue. Like a bolt out of the blue, the boss came and fired us all.
See also: blue, bolt, like, of, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • like a bolt from the blue
  • a bolt from the blue
  • bolt from the blue
  • bolt from the blue, a
  • up and
  • up and (do something)
  • up and did
  • up and leave, go, etc.
  • bolt down
  • a dark horse