Meaning of take by surprise | Babel Free

Definitions

To occur to someone when unexpected; to surprise.

Equivalents

Examples

“Kazakhstan's shooting team was taken by surprise⟳ when a spoof national anthem from the film Borat was used at a medal ceremony in Kuwait.”

“Both the South Korean government and US forces in the region appear⟳ to have⟳ been taken by surprise⟳ by Trump’s declared suspension of joint exercises.”

“No substitute bus services could be organised, and it is almost as though the train⟳ operator has been taken by surprise⟳ by the non-attendance of staff who appear⟳ to have⟳ made themselves unavailable - whether or not the diagram concerned was covered by overtime.”

CEFR level