take something by surprise

take something by surprise
take sb/sth by surˈprise idiom
to attack or capture sb/sth unexpectedly or without warning

The police took the burglars by surprise.

Main entry:surpriseidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • take someone by surprise — take (someone) by surprise to do something not expected. His resignation took us all completely by surprise …   New idioms dictionary

  • take someone/something by surprise — attack or capture someone or something unexpectedly ■ take someone by surprise happen when someone is not prepared or is expecting something different the question took David by surprise …   Useful english dictionary

  • catch/take someone or something by surprise — catch/take (someone or something) by surprise 1 : to happen to (someone or something) unexpectedly : to surprise (someone or something) The question caught him by surprise. The organization was taken completely by surprise by the announcement. 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • take by surprise — take (someone) by surprise to do something not expected. His resignation took us all completely by surprise …   New idioms dictionary

  • surprise — sur|prise1 W2S3 [səˈpraız US sər ] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(event)¦ 2¦(feeling)¦ 3 take/catch somebody by surprise 4 take somebody/something by surprise 5¦(gift/party etc)¦ 6 surprise guest/visitor etc 7 surprise! 8 9¦(method)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • surprise — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Unexpectedness Nouns surprise, nonexpectation, unexpectedness, the unforeseen, unforeseen contingency or circumstances, miscalculation, astonishment, wonder, thunderclap, turn, blow, shock, bolt from the …   English dictionary for students

  • take — I [[t]te͟ɪk[/t]] USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS ♦ takes, taking, took, taken (Take is used in combination with a wide range of nouns, where the meaning of the combination is mostly given by the noun. Many of these combinations are common… …   English dictionary

  • surprise — 1 noun 1 EVENT (C) an unexpected or unusual event: Joan! What a lovely surprise to see you again! | surprise visit/announcement/attack etc: Let s pay grandma a surprise visit. | US forces launched a surprise attack on the Panamanian capital. |… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • take — [c]/teɪk / (say tayk) verb (took, taken, taking) –verb (t) 1. to get into one s hands or possession by force or artifice. 2. to seize, catch, or capture. 3. to grasp, grip or hold. 4. to get into one s hold, possession, control, etc., by one s… …  

  • take — takable, takeable, adj. taker, n. /tayk/, v., took, taken, taking, n. v.t. 1. to get into one s hold or possession by voluntary action: to take a cigarette out of a box; to take a pen and begin to write. 2. to hold, grasp, or grip: to take a book …   Universalium

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