aback
31aback (taken) — (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) adv. startled, taken unawares, surprised, confused, *thrown off guard …
32take 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: ↑ …
33taken 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./ …
34taken 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./ …
35take aback — verb a) To surprise or shock; to discomfit. I was rather taken aback by his angry reply. b) Of a ship: to catch it with the sails aback suddenly. The bad news took us aback …
36taken 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… …
37be 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 …
38To 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 …
39take aback — If you are taken aback, it means that you re surprised or shocked by something …
40take aback — ► take aback shock or surprise (someone). Main Entry: ↑aback …