take by surprise
verb
Roget 870:
wonder,
marvel,
admire;
be surprised
etc.
adj.;
start;
stare;
open one's eyes,
rub one's eyes,
turn up one's eyes;
gloar†;
gape,
open one's mouth,
hold one's breath;
look aghast,
stand aghast,
stand agog;
look blank
etc.
(disappointment)
509;
tombe des nues [Fr.];
not believe one's eyes,
not believe one's ears,
not believe one's senses.
not be able to account for
etc.
(unintelligible)
519;
not know whether one stands on one's head or one's not know whether one stands on one's head or one's heels.
surprise,
astonish,
amaze,
astound;
dumfound,
dumfounder;
startle,
dazzle;
daze;
strike,
strike with wonder,
strike with awe;
electrify;
stun,
stupefy,
petrify,
confound,
bewilder,
flabbergast,
stagger,
throw on one's beam ends,
fascinate,
turn the head,
take away one's breath,
strike dumb;
make one's hair stand on end,
make one's tongue cleave to the roof of one's make one's tongue cleave to the roof of one's mouth;
make one stare.
take by surprise
etc.
(be unexpected)
508.
be wonderful
etc.
adj.;
beggar description,
beggar the imagination,
baffle description;
stagger belief.
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Roget 508:
not expect
etc.
507;
be taken by surprise;
start;
miscalculate
etc.
481;
not bargain for;
come upon,
fall upon.
be unexpected
etc.
adj.;
come unawares
etc.
adv.;
turn up,
pop,
drop from the clouds;
come upon one,
burst upon one,
flash upon one,
bounce upon one,
steal upon one,
creep upon one;
come like a thunder clap,
burst like a thunderclap,
thunder bolt;
take by surprise,
catch by surprise,
catch unawares,
catch napping;
yach [S. Afr.].
pounce upon,
spring a mine upon.
surprise,
startle,
take aback,
electrify,
stun,
stagger,
take away one's breath,
throw off one's guard;
astonish,
dumbfound
etc.
(strike with wonder)
870.
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