I was taken aback
I was very surprised or disappointed
TRANSLATION
erstaunt, sprachlos, überrascht, aus der Fassung gebracht sein, bestürzt sein, stutzig werden, verblüfft sein
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"As I had always taken a great interest in the outcome of these various campaigns, I WAS TAKEN ABACK on discovering how much my radio reports had annoyed Tony Blair."
(Nicholas Jones on BBC News. Tues 22nd Feb. 2000)
(Nicholas Jones on BBC News. Tues 22nd Feb. 2000)
Did you
know?
Did you know?
Many English words and phrases used in business originate from the time when Britain was a global sea power.
e.g. loose cannon, all aboard, a good crew, plain sailing, piracy...
The phrase "to be taken aback" originally meant to have the ship's sails blown back against the mast through a sudden shift of wind or bad steerage, thereby stopping the ship's forward motion. The meaning "to be surprised" developed later and is now in common usage.
Many English words and phrases used in business originate from the time when Britain was a global sea power.
e.g. loose cannon, all aboard, a good crew, plain sailing, piracy...
The phrase "to be taken aback" originally meant to have the ship's sails blown back against the mast through a sudden shift of wind or bad steerage, thereby stopping the ship's forward motion. The meaning "to be surprised" developed later and is now in common usage.
