1. Name of chain of museums, books, and TV show by
amateur anthropologist Robert
Ripley about things which are odd, unusual, or surprising.
2. In colloquial conversation, an event which is surprising or which seems unlikely but is (supposedly) true.
Def 1 examples:
Two-headed calf,
a man with father, grandfather, and
great-grandfather all with the same birthday, or
Hindu priest who can drive a six inch metal spike into his nose all the way into his brain.
Def 2 examples:
Believe it or not, we are
having twins! AGAIN!!
Believe it or not, she was choking, I was just performing the
Heimlich maneuver!!
Believe it or not, I got the highest mark in the class!