expression, noun
out of the blue; bolt from the blue; complete surprise
Idiomatic expression for something sudden and unexpected, often used when someone says or does something abruptly without context.
彼は藪から棒に「結婚しよう」と言った。
Out of the blue, he said, "Let's get married."
藪から棒な質問で驚いた。
I was surprised by the sudden, unexpected question.
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; the first part is often written in kana.
Literally 'a stick from a thicket', evoking the image of a stick suddenly poking out of a bush. The exact origin is uncertain, but it vividly conveys something abrupt and unexpected.