take aback

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Verb 1.2.1 Usage notes 1.2.2 Translations 1.2.3 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

(nautical) a square-rigged ship is taken aback when the wind blows on the front of the sails

[edit] Verb

to take aback

1. (idiomatic) To surprise or shock; to discomfit.

   I was rather taken aback by his angry reply.

   The bad news took us aback.

2. (nautical, usually passive) Of a ship: to catch it with the sails aback suddenly.

[edit] Usage notes

• Most commonly found in the passive form.
• The object may appear before or after the particle. If the object is a pronoun, then it must be before the particle.

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• taken aback