That's unbelievable vs You're gonna shoot me

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

That's unbelievable

Top 2,000 (common)

You're gonna shoot me

InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: That's unbelievableMost common: That's unbelievable
 That's unbelievableYou're gonna shoot me
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbl//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbəl//🇬🇧 //jʊər ˈgɒnə ʃuːt miː//🇺🇸 //jʊr ˈgɑnə ʃut mi//
MeaningIt's hard to believe; it's shocking.You will hurt me with a gun.
ExampleWhen she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!'When he said he failed the exam, I was like, 'You're gonna shoot me!'
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CollocationsThat's unbelievable news, That's unbelievable behavior, That's unbelievable luckshoot me down, shoot me a message, shoot me straight, shoot me with questions, shoot me a glance
Common mistakesUsed in negative situations instead of positive ones., Saying 'This is unbelievable' instead of 'That's unbelievable' in conversations., Confusing with 'That's incredible' which has a more positive connotation.Misunderstanding it as a literal threat, Using in formal contexts, Confusing with similar phrases like 'shoot me down'
Usage notesCommonly used in casual conversation to express surprise or disbelief. Avoid in overly formal settings.Commonly used in casual conversations, often in joking or theatrical contexts. Not appropriate in serious discussions about violence.

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That's unbelievable
You're gonna shoot me

Frequently asked questions: That's unbelievable vs You're gonna shoot me

What's the difference between That's unbelievable and You're gonna shoot me?

That's unbelievable: It's hard to believe; it's shocking. You're gonna shoot me: You will hurt me with a gun.

Which is more formal: That's unbelievable and You're gonna shoot me?

That's unbelievable is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: That's unbelievable and You're gonna shoot me?

That's unbelievable is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

That's unbelievable: When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!' You're gonna shoot me: When he said he failed the exam, I was like, 'You're gonna shoot me!'

Can I use That's unbelievable and You're gonna shoot me interchangeably?

Not always. That's unbelievable and You're gonna shoot me are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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