guess what

Perhaps an ellipsis of "(can you) guess what I am about to say/what happened next?"

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guess what

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see guess,‎ what.
2. (idiomatic, by ellipsis, rhetoric question) Used to introduce a surprising outcome or one that the hearer is not expected to try to guess.
   • 2007, David Richmond, The Software Entrepreneur’s Template‎, page 15:

     Guess what the top two success drivers were from his detailed research: a unique, superior, differentiated product; strong market orientation and voice of the customer built in. Guess what the top two deficiencies were: lack of market orientation; poor quality of execution.

   • 2011, Bob Merritt, When Life's Not Working: 7 Simple Choices for a Better Tomorrow‎, page 57:

     She started down on one end, and whether she knew you or not, she walked right up to you, got six inches away from your face, and said, “Guess what, I won!”

   • 2011, Jen Jones, The Girl's Guide to Wizards: Everything Magical about These Spellbinders‎, page 17:

     Have you ever said “abracadabra”, “hocus pocus”, or “presto chango”? Well, guess what? You were casting a spell!

3. (idiomatic) Used to dramatize the introduction of an unsurprising outcome.

   I've only had two job interviews and – guess what – no job offers.

   • 2011, Sandra Gila, Vortex: The Journey of a Nursing Home Survivor‎, page 160:

     Yesterday evening at 6:30 P.M. there's a new charge nurse, he's going to give me my seizure medication and guess what? There isn't any!

• (used to dramatize the unsurprising): you know what