take by surprise

take by surprise
{v. phr.} 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. * /The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./ * /When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. * /Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ * /When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • take by surprise — ► take by surprise 1) attack or capture unexpectedly. 2) happen unexpectedly to. Main Entry: ↑surprise …   English terms dictionary

  • take by surprise — take (someone) by surprise to do something not expected. His resignation took us all completely by surprise …   New idioms dictionary

  • take by surprise — {v. phr.} 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. * /The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take\ by\ surprise — v. phr. 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window. When… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • take by surprise — act at an unexpected time …   English contemporary dictionary

  • take by surprise — idi a) to come upon unawares b) to astonish; amaze …   From formal English to slang

  • surprise — [sər prīz′, sə prīz′] vt. surprised, surprising [ME surprysen < OFr surpris, pp. of sorprendre, to surprise, take napping < sur (see SUR 1) + prendre, to take (see PRIZE2)] 1. to come upon suddenly or unexpectedly; take unawares 2. to at …   English World dictionary

  • surprise — [n] something amazing; state of amazement abruptness, amazement, astonishment, astoundment, attack, awe, bewilderment, bombshell*, consternation, curiosity, curveball*, disappointment, disillusion, eye opener*, fortune, godsend*, incredulity,… …   New thesaurus

  • catch/take by surprise — catch/take (someone or something) by surprise 1 : to happen to (someone or something) unexpectedly : to surprise (someone or something) The question caught him by surprise. The organization was taken completely by surprise by the announcement. 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • surprise — ► NOUN 1) a feeling of mild astonishment or shock caused by something unexpected. 2) an unexpected or astonishing thing. ► VERB 1) cause to feel surprise. 2) capture, attack, or discover suddenly and unexpectedly. ● take by surprise Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

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