taken aback — also[taken back] {adj.} Unpleasantly surprised; suddenly puzzled or shocked. * /When he came to pay for his dinner he was taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home./ … Dictionary of American idioms
taken aback — also[taken back] {adj.} Unpleasantly surprised; suddenly puzzled or shocked. * /When he came to pay for his dinner he was taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home./ … Dictionary of American idioms
taken aback — Taken by surprise • • • Main Entry: ↑aback … Useful english dictionary
taken aback — confused or surprised by something unexpected. Company executives have been taken aback by the criticism. I asked him directly if he was looking for someone with my skills, and I think he was kind of taken aback. Etymology: based on the literal… … New idioms dictionary
taken aback — Meaning Surprised. Origin When the wind changes direction the sails of a sailing ship sometimes blow back against the mast, i.e. they are taken aback … Meaning and origin of phrases
taken\ aback — adj Unpleasantly surprised; suddenly puzzled or shocked. When he came to pay for his dinner he was taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home. See: take back •• to (be) cause(d) a feeling of surprise or astonishment, often also with… … Словарь американских идиом
taken aback — unpleasantly surprised, suddenly puzzled or shocked I was taken aback when she said that she didn t want to work with us any longer … Idioms and examples
To be taken aback — Take Take, v. t. [imp. {Took} (t[oo^]k); p. p. {Taken} (t[=a]k n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Taking}.] [Icel. taka; akin to Sw. taga, Dan. tage, Goth. t[=e]kan to touch; of uncertain origin.] 1. In an active sense; To lay hold of; to seize with the hands … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
be taken aback — phrase to be shocked or surprised, especially by something that someone says or does to you Bill was taken aback by the girl’s directness. Thesaurus: to be shocked or surprisedsynonym Main entry: aback … Useful english dictionary
(be) taken aback (by somebody) — be taken aˈback (by sb/sth) idiom to be shocked or surprised by sb/sth • She was completely taken aback by his anger. Main entry: ↑abackidiom … Useful english dictionary