jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pWe construct a formal asymptotic series expansion for a general solution of the Brans–Dicke equations with a fluid source near a sudden singularity. This solution contains 11 independent arbitrary functions of the spatial coordinates as required by the Cauchy problem of the theory. We show that the solution is geodesically complete and has the character of a shock wave in the sudden asymptotic region. This solution is weak in the senses of Tipler and Krolak as in the corresponding case of general relativity.</jats:p>