it's a wonder
Said when something surprising almost didn't happen, or almost did.
Also called its a wonder, wonder that.
Updated September 24, 2026
it's a wonder pronunciation
/its uh WUN-der/
Meaning
It's a wonder marks surprise that things turned out how they did. Often half relief: it's a wonder that old truck made it home, it's a wonder the wasps didn't sting me to death. In redneck talk it softens a close call into porch storytelling instead of panic.
How folks use it
- “It's a wonder that ladder didn't dump him in the creek.”
- “It's a wonder she ever puts up with that dog.”
Origin and etymology
Built on wonder in the old sense of marvel or surprise, from Old English wundor. English has used it's a wonder (that) for a long time to mean something unexpected. Rural Southern speakers keep it in everyday talk about close calls and odd luck.