PhrasesHub

Taken aback

    Definitions

      • surprise
        To be surprised or shocked by something unexpected

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

    Examples of Taken aback

    • Jane was taken aback when her boss announced unexpected changes to the company's structure during a staff meeting.

      The phrase "taken aback" means surprised or caught off guard. In this example, Jane was caught unaware by the announcement made by her boss.

    • The basketball player was taken aback by the referee's decision to award a foul against him in a crucial match.

      The verb "was" is used here in the past tense to indicate an action that happened in the past. "Taken aback" is used to express the player's surprise at the referee's decision.

    • The politician's spokesperson was taken aback by the sudden intensity of the media's scrutiny following the leaking of confidential documents.

      "Taken aback" can also be used to describe the reaction of someone who is initially unprepared or unaccustomed to a situation. In this instance, the politician's spokesperson was caught off guard by the sudden increase in media attention.

    • The teacher was taken aback by the students' excellent performance during the exam, as they had underperformed in previous assessments.

      "Taken aback" can also be used to describe a positive surprise, where someone is pleasantly surprised by something unexpected. Here, the teacher was surprised and pleased by the students' exceptional performance during the exam.

    • The speaker was giving a presentation to a group of investors, when suddenly the power went out, leaving the room dark and silent. When the lights came back on a few moments later, the speaker was taken aback to see one of the investors standing up and leaving the room.

      In this example, the speaker is surprised and caught off guard by the investor's sudden departure. The phrase "taken aback" is used to describe the speaker's reaction to the unexpected event.

    • The job candidate confidently answered every question thrown at them during the interview, but when the interviewer asked about a gap in their employment history, the candidate stumbled over their words and appeared taken aback.

      Here, the phrase "taken aback" is used to illustrate the candidate's surprise and unpreparedness for this specific question, as they were not expecting it and were caught off guard.

    • The singer was delivering an impressive performance, but halfway through the song, the sound system suddenly malfunctioned, causing her to be taken aback and briefly halt the song.

      In this example, the singer is taken aback by the unexpected failure of the sound system, causing her to momentarily stop the song and regain her composure.

    • The national team's star player, who was expected to perform brilliantly in the final, suddenly suffered a freak injury during the game, leaving the team and their fans taken aback and stunned by the sudden turn of events.

      This example demonstrates how the phrase "taken aback" can be used to show surprise and disbelief in response to a sudden and unexpected event, such as a player's injury in the middle of a high-stakes game.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "taken aback" can be used to express surprise or shock at something unexpected. It can also be used to discourage someone from pursuing a particular activity or task by cautioning them that it will not have any positive outcome or benefit.

    Origin of "Taken aback"

    The origin of the idiom "taken aback" can be traced back to nautical terminology. In sailing, when a ship is "taken aback," it is caught off guard by a sudden change in wind direction, causing the sails to move back against the mast. This unexpected occurrence would surprise and shock the sailors, leading to the idiom's association with being surprised or shocked by something unexpected. Over time, the expression has evolved to be used in a wider context beyond sailing, and it has become a common phrase in the English language to convey surprise or shock.