to take someone by surprise
11take by surprise — take (someone) by surprise to do something not expected. His resignation took us all completely by surprise …
12take — I [[t]te͟ɪk[/t]] USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS ♦ takes, taking, took, taken (Take is used in combination with a wide range of nouns, where the meaning of the combination is mostly given by the noun. Many of these combinations are common… …
13take — takable, takeable, adj. taker, n. /tayk/, v., took, taken, taking, n. v.t. 1. to get into one s hold or possession by voluntary action: to take a cigarette out of a box; to take a pen and begin to write. 2. to hold, grasp, or grip: to take a book …
14surprise — noun 1》 a feeling of mild astonishment or shock caused by something unexpected. 2》 an unexpected or astonishing thing. 3》 [as modifier] Bell ringing denoting a complex method of change ringing: surprise major. verb 1》 cause to feel surprise. 2》… …
15surprise — 1 noun 1 EVENT (C) an unexpected or unusual event: Joan! What a lovely surprise to see you again! | surprise visit/announcement/attack etc: Let s pay grandma a surprise visit. | US forces launched a surprise attack on the Panamanian capital. |… …
16take — [c]/teɪk / (say tayk) verb (took, taken, taking) –verb (t) 1. to get into one s hands or possession by force or artifice. 2. to seize, catch, or capture. 3. to grasp, grip or hold. 4. to get into one s hold, possession, control, etc., by one s… …
17surprise — I UK [sə(r)ˈpraɪz] / US [sərˈpraɪz] noun Word forms surprise : singular surprise plural surprises *** Ways of expressing surprise: Goodness!/Good heavens!/(Oh) my God → used for showing that you are surprised Good grief! → used for showing that… …
18surprise — sur|prise1 [ sər praız ] noun *** 1. ) count an unusual or unexpected event: There were few surprises in the basketball playoffs this year. come as a surprise: Holman s arrest came as a surprise to the entire community. come as no surprise: Given …
19take aback — verb surprise greatly; knock someone s socks off (Freq. 1) I was floored when I heard that I was promoted • Syn: ↑shock, ↑floor, ↑ball over, ↑blow out of the water • Derivationally related forms: ↑ …
20take — [[t]teɪk[/t]] v. took, tak•en, tak•ing, n. 1) to get into one s hands or possession by voluntary action: Take the book, please[/ex] 2) to hold, grasp, or grip: to take a child by the hand[/ex] 3) to get into one s possession or control by force… …
