of all people

[Maybo]

Did you feel guilty cursing God一you, of all people?
(Have a little faith by Mitch Albom)

Does "you, of all people" mean that "you", among the people who feel guilty cursing God?

 

[emsr2d2]

No. We use "of all people" to express surprise when someone does something that does not seem to fit their usual behaviour or character. We also use it when someone says or does something that we believe that they should know, from experience perhaps, better than to do.

Here are a couple of scenarios:

Priest: God doesn't exist.
John: What did you just say?
Priest: I said that God doesn't exist.
John: That's surprising. Surely you, of all people, must believe that God exists.

John's final line expresses that a priest (more than anyone else) should believe that God exists.


Helen (whose house has been burgled ten times): I think burglars should be given lighter sentences.
Jane: What?! You, of all people, should be fighting for stiffer sentences for them.

Jane's response indicates that Helen, as the victim of ten burglaries, would be expected to be fighting for stiffer sentences for burglars.