element of surprise

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

element of surprise (plural elements of surprise)

1. (idiomatic) The strategic advantage afforded to a party when its opposition may be caught by surprise.

   We should attack the enemy's camp now while we still have the element of surprise.

Usage notes

Chiefly preceded by the definite article - i.e. the element of surprise.

Translations

strategic advantage

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 出其不意 (zh) (chūqíbùyì), 兵者詭道／兵者诡道 (bīngzhěguǐdào)

• Danish: please add this translation if you can
• Dutch: verrassingselement (nl) n
• Finnish: yllätystekijä
• Portuguese: elemento supresa m
• Russian: please add this translation if you can