WebThe term taken aback means to be surprised to the extent of being stopped in your tracks. Aback is a nautical term. It means a sudden change in wind direction. When a sail ship … Webphrasal verb took aback; taken aback; taking aback; takes aback Synonyms of take aback : to surprise or shock (someone) usually used as (be) taken aback When I told …
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WebMay 25, 2011 · “Aback” became a nautical term in the 17th century, the OED says, when it was used to describe sails “laid back against the mast, with the wind bearing against their front surfaces.” A ship with its sails in that condition was also described as “aback.” Here are some examples from various nautical accounts:
WebSep 8, 2024 · “Taken aback” is a phrasal verb that means that something took the subject by surprise or startled them to the point of stopping them in their tracks. You could also … WebThe earliest OED example of “taken aback” to mean “surprised,” “shocked,” or “disconcerted” is dated 1751. This sense arose from a sailing term: taken aback: (transitive verb in the passive) Of a sail: to be suddenly pressed back against the mast, preventing forward progress, either through bad steering or a change in the wind ...
WebMar 14, 2024 · Meaning If you’re telling someone you’re “taken aback,” it means that you are in shock or disbelief at their behavior. The saying can apply to your reaction to a sudden turn in events or something unexpected someone says to you. Webwas taken aback by [how, what] was taken aback about [how] was taken aback by her [words, statement, outfit] was taken aback to [learn, hear, find, read, discover] was taken aback because (of) took me [completely, slightly, somewhat] aback (when) have never been so taken aback (as when) hold the [jib, sails] aback
WebNov 14, 2024 · To start with, the word aback, unsurprisingly, used to be two words: a back. Sometime about 600 years ago, the two words become one, as did around and the now defunct adown. Before aback was used to refer to someone who is so surprised that they might step or jump back, it was a sailing term.
Webtake aback, to To surprise or discomfit. This term originally was nautical, describing sails that press against the mast and therefore suddenly impede a vessel’s progress. It was … erthe upon ertheWebApr 9, 2024 · Taken aback definition: startled or disconcerted Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples ertheyhWebbe taken aback (by somebody/something) to be shocked or surprised by somebody/something She was completely taken aback by his anger. Topics Feelings c2 Questions about grammar and vocabulary? Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English. Synonyms surprise see also … finger food buffet recipesWebFeb 17, 2016 · ["Taken aback" is a term from the days of sail, when the wind might completely shift to blow from the front for a moment, which would cause the sails to fill the wrong way and the ship to be "taken aback", i.e. stopped abruptly, with an effect similar to a small earthquake.] Share Improve this answer Follow edited Dec 18, 2016 at 19:44 er the war comes home castWebFeeling a sense of disgust or repulsion Mentally or emotionally demoralized … more Adjective Confounded with surprise or wonder stunned stupefied astounded astonished … fingerfood buffet from costcoWebtake someone aback definition: 1. to surprise or shock someone so much that they do not know how to behave for a short time: 2…. Learn more. fingerfood buffet cateringWebWords related to taken aback astonished, awed, baffled, befuddled, dazed, mystified, perplexed, puzzled, rattled, shocked, startled, stunned, surprised, bewildered, … er the villages