take+by+surprise
41surprise — (n.) late 14c., unexpected attack or capture, from M.Fr. surprise a taking unawares, from noun use of pp. of O.Fr. surprendre to overtake, from sur over (see SUR (Cf. sur )) + prendre to take, from L. prendere, contracted from prehendere to grasp …
42take something by surprise — take sb/sth by surˈprise idiom to attack or capture sb/sth unexpectedly or without warning • The police took the burglars by surprise. Main entry: ↑surpriseidiom …
43take your breath away — take (your) breath away if something takes your breath away, you feel surprise and admiration because it is very beautiful, good, or exciting. The beauty of the Taj Mahal took my breath away …
44take breath away — take (your) breath away if something takes your breath away, you feel surprise and admiration because it is very beautiful, good, or exciting. The beauty of the Taj Mahal took my breath away …
45take aback — ► take aback shock or surprise (someone). Main Entry: ↑aback …
46take somebody aback — ˌtake sb aˈback derived usually passive to shock or surprise sb very much Main entry: ↑takederived …
47take aback — surprise, astound; confuse, bewilder …
48take one's breath away — surprise, cause one s breathing to suddenly stop …
49surprise — 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. |… …
50take — 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… …
