taken aback
to be surprised by something unexpected
TRANSLATION
taken aback = überrascht, aus der Fassung gebracht sein --- GOOGLE INDEX taken aback: approximately 6,600,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Capitalising on Lower Saxony’s surprisingly strong numbers, Philipp Rösler, the FDP’s beleaguered chairman, abruptly offered his job to his chief rival, Rainer Brüderle, the party’s leader in parliament. TAKEN ABACK, Mr Brüderle declined, and the two agreed that Mr Rösler would remain leader, but with Mr Brüderle as the "face" of the campaign in September.
(The Economist)
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They were TAKEN ABACK, as were most homeowners, by figures from the Central Statistics Office showing a fall in house prices in December.
(The Irish Independent)
(The Economist)
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They were TAKEN ABACK, as were most homeowners, by figures from the Central Statistics Office showing a fall in house prices in December.
(The Irish Independent)
Did you
know?
taken aback
idiom
- confused or surprised by something unexpected
(Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms)
---
Aback is an archaic adverb (a + back) that means towards or situated to the rear or back (You can park in the spot aback of the house). Hardly ever used by itself these days, it survives in the expression "taken aback."
Some might be taken aback to know that this phrase is nautical in origin. The sails of a ship are said to be "aback" when the wind blows them flat against the masts and spars that support them. If the wind suddenly turns so that a ship is facing unexpectedly into the wind, the ship is said to be "taken aback." The figurative sense of being surprised or shocked first appeared in the middle of the 19th century.
Seafaring has given the English language numerous expressions and phrases that are still in use today. But like the tall tales that sailors of old liked to tell, there are also numerous false etymologies related to maritime. Brass monkey (very cold) weather is a good example. Some have suggested that this refers to the brass triangles that supported stacks of iron cannon-balls on sailing ships, which were called monkeys. In cold weather the metal contracted, causing the balls to fall off.
The expression is also commonly heard as "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." Although that might seem like a reference to the male reproductive organ, etymologists have been scratching their heads for decades in an unsuccessful effort to pin down the exact origin. It remains a mystery.
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SYNONYMS
amazed, astonished, blown away, dumfounded, flabbergasted, jolted, shocked, surprised, stunned, thrown a curve
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"I was taken aback to hear that Susan is leaving the company."
idiom
- confused or surprised by something unexpected
(Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms)
---
Aback is an archaic adverb (a + back) that means towards or situated to the rear or back (You can park in the spot aback of the house). Hardly ever used by itself these days, it survives in the expression "taken aback."
Some might be taken aback to know that this phrase is nautical in origin. The sails of a ship are said to be "aback" when the wind blows them flat against the masts and spars that support them. If the wind suddenly turns so that a ship is facing unexpectedly into the wind, the ship is said to be "taken aback." The figurative sense of being surprised or shocked first appeared in the middle of the 19th century.
Seafaring has given the English language numerous expressions and phrases that are still in use today. But like the tall tales that sailors of old liked to tell, there are also numerous false etymologies related to maritime. Brass monkey (very cold) weather is a good example. Some have suggested that this refers to the brass triangles that supported stacks of iron cannon-balls on sailing ships, which were called monkeys. In cold weather the metal contracted, causing the balls to fall off.
The expression is also commonly heard as "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." Although that might seem like a reference to the male reproductive organ, etymologists have been scratching their heads for decades in an unsuccessful effort to pin down the exact origin. It remains a mystery.
---
SYNONYMS
amazed, astonished, blown away, dumfounded, flabbergasted, jolted, shocked, surprised, stunned, thrown a curve
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"I was taken aback to hear that Susan is leaving the company."
