[Idiom] Something not expected?

[Jeanniezmom]

I think "beyond expectation" carries a positive air...will there be a phrase that is the opposite? (i.e. frustrating, less than expected : I have used the examplary expressions already and am looking for a different expression):roll:
Thank you.

 

[birdeen's call]

Maybe "beyond all our fears"?

 

[Tullia]

I'd avoid "beyond" I think, as it carries a sense of having gone further. Without a sentence to put the phrase in, this is a hard task, but expressions like "under par" might work.

Two phrases you might like are:

"to exceed expectations"
"to fail to meet expectations"