take sb aback
— phrasal verb with take /teɪk/ verb (took, taken)Definition
› to surprise or shock someone so much that they do not know how to behave for a short time: I was a little taken aback at the directness of the question. The news really took us aback.Surprising and shockingMaking people sad, shocked and upsetMaking people sad, shocked and upset
(Definition of take sb aback from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse the Dictionary
-
take off phrasal verb (SUCCEED)
-
take on sth phrasal verb
-
take one (thing) at a time idiom
-
take over/up the reins idiom
-
take root idiom
- take sb aback phrasal verb
-
take sb apart phrasal verb
-
take sb at their word idiom
-
take sb back phrasal verb (MEMORY)
-
take sb back phrasal verb (PARTNER)
-
take sb for a ride idiom
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- aback adverb
- amiss adjective
- appal verb
- be laughing on the other side of your face idiom
- bother verb (WORRY)
- gnaw verb (FEEL WORRIED)
- go/fall to pieces idiom
- grieve verb
- haunt verb (REPEATEDLY TROUBLE)
- hit/touch a (raw) nerve idiom
- horrify verb
- offend verb (UPSET)
- offense noun
- shake sb up phrasal verb
- shake/rock sth to its foundations idiom
- shocker noun
- sorrow verb
- sting verb (HURT)
- tear sb apart phrasal verb
- toxic adjective (UNPLEASANT)
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Our dictionaries
Word of the Day
Blog
Read our blog about how the English language behaves.
New Words
Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.
