1. To cause to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement, as at something unanticipated: Thinking I was at home, she was surprised to see me in the office. We were surprised that he could recover so quickly.
2.
a. To encounter or discover suddenly or unexpectedly; take or catch unawares: She surprised him as he was reading her diary.
b. To attack or capture suddenly and without warning: surprised the sentries in a predawn raid, wounding several.
3.
a. To cause (someone) to do or say something unintended or to be in an unintended condition: "There passed a scene ... that surprised me into courage to come forward"(Fanny Burney).
b. To elicit or detect through surprise: "She occasionally surprised a look on Jemima's face"(Marcia Willett).
n.
1. The act of surprising or the condition of being surprised: Imagine my surprise on seeing you here.
2. Something, such as an unexpected encounter, event, or gift, that surprises.
[Middle English surprisen, to overcome, from Old French surprise, feminine past participle of surprendre, to surprise : sur-, sur- + prendre, to take (from Latin prehendere, prēndere, to seize; see ghend- in Indo-European roots).]
sur·pris′er n.
sur·pris′ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: surprise, astonish, amaze, astound, dumbfound, flabbergast These verbs mean to affect a person strongly as being unexpected or unusual. To surprise is to fill with often sudden wonder or disbelief as being unanticipated or out of the ordinary: "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity" (George S. Patton). Astonish suggests overwhelming surprise: The sight of such an enormous crowd astonished us. Amaze implies astonishment and often bewilderment: The violinist's virtuosity has amazed audiences all over the world. Astound connotes shock, as from something unprecedented in one's experience: We were astounded at the beauty of the mountains. Dumbfound adds to astound the suggestion of perplexity and often speechlessness: His question dumbfounded me, and I could not respond. Flabbergast is used as a more colorful equivalent of astound, astonish, or amaze:"He was utterly flabbergasted by the accusation and for a few moments he was quite unable to reply" (Alexander McCall Smith).
Crops up when you least expect it, like dandruff —Robin Worthington
(I read the note over several times with a kind of stupid) incredulity, like an unbelieving prisoner reading the formal sentence of his own execution —Robert Traver
Started [at sound of a sudden call] like a horse at the sound of the bugle —Stefan Zweig
(She) started like a quiet, lovely insect into which someone had suddenly stabbed a pin —Elizabeth Spencer
Startling as curves in a mountain road —Lorrie Moore
(The idea was as) startling … as if in a blank wall before her a door had opened —Dorothy Canfield Fisher
(Perception as) startling as watching a feeling cross a face on Mount Rushmore —Paige Mitchell
Startling, like a face changing in front of you, from young to old, well to ill —Wilfrid Sheed
Surprised and shocked as if she had heard an explosion and seen her own shattered legs go flying across the floor —Rachel Ingalls
Surprised as a sardine that went to sleep in the ocean and woke up in a delicatessen store —Arthur Baer
Surprised [physical reaction] me as much as if I were a baby suddenly popped from the womb —Angela Carter
Surprise made me look like a goldfish —Rebecca West
Surprises keep us living: as when the first light surprised our infant eyes —Louis MacNeice
Surprising as a child’s laugh rising higher, higher, higher —Babette Deutsch
(Sharp pain pierced his chest, as quick and) unexpected as the materialization of a hairline crack in bone —Paige Mitchell
Unexpected as aluminum siding in Buckingham Palace —Anon
Unexpected as best seller status for a book of Latin quotations —Anon
Unexpected as a heart attack —Anon
Unexpected as a heat wave in February —Anon
Unexpected as gourmet food in a second rate hotel —Anon
Unexpected as snow in July —Anon
Unexpectedly wonderful treat, like blue skies and warmth in a chilly spring —Janet Flanner
You never know what somebody’s got in him: like the man with germs, suddenly he’s down in bed with a crisis —Clifford Odets
bolt from the blue A sudden and entirely unexpected or unforeseen occurrence; a complete surprise; also, the adverbial phrases out of the blue and out of a clear blue sky ’unexpectedly, suddenly; without warning or notice.’ The allusion is to suddenness and surprise similar to that which would be experienced if a bolt of lightning were unexpectedly to appear in a cloudless sky. Although bolt from the blue was in use as early as 1837, out of the blue did not appear until 1919.
bug-eyed Astonished, surprised; aghast with wonder or awe; literally, to have protruding eyes as do certain species of bugs. Though this precise adjective form did not appear until the 1920s, conceptually equivalent expressions date from considerably earlier.
Wouldn’t their eyes bug out, to see ’em handled like that? (Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, 1883)
Scarborough warning Little or no forewarning, no previous notice; a total shock. This expression may allude to the 1557 siege of Scarborough castle, which took its inhabitants completely off guard. Another possible origin concerns a harsh law enacted in Scarborough which allowed the punishment of robbery suspects prior to a trial. In any event, the expression, used frequently in Great Britain until the mid-1800s, is virtually never heard today.
The true man for giving Scarborough warning—first knock you down, then bid you stand. (Sir Walter Scott, Redgauntlet, 1824)
taken aback Surprised or stunned into immobility. This was originally a nautical term describing a square-rigged ship whose sails are blown against the mast, thus preventing further forward movement. An early figurative usage employs the term all aback:
On this subject I am literally as the sailors say all aback. (Edward Winslow, Winslow Papers, 1783)
If something surprises you, you did not expect it.
What you say surprises me.
Her decision to resign had surprised everybody.
Don't use a progressive form of surprise. Don't say, for example, 'What you say is surprising me'.
2. used as a noun
If something is a surprise, it surprises someone.
The result came as a surprise to everyone.
It was a great surprise to find out I had won.
In stories, expressions such as to my surprise and to her surprise are sometimes used to show that someone is surprised by something.
To her surprise he said no.
Be Careful! Don't use any preposition except to in these expressions. Don't say, for example, 'For her surprise he said no'.
3. 'surprised'
Surprised is an adjective. If you are surprised to see something or surprised to hear something, you did not expect to see it or hear it.
I was surprised to see her return so soon.
You won't be surprised to learn that I disagreed with this.
Be Careful! Don't say that someone is 'surprised at seeing' or 'surprised at hearing' something. Don't say that someone is 'surprise to' see or hear something. Don't say, for example, 'I was surprised at seeing her return' or 'I was surprise to see her return'.
surprise - the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
amazement, astonishment - the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising; "he looked at me in astonishment"
2.
surprise - a sudden unexpected event
alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago"
peripeteia, peripetia, peripety - a sudden and unexpected change of fortune or reverse of circumstances (especially in a literary work); "a peripeteia swiftly turns a routine sequence of events into a story worth telling"
blow, shock - an unpleasant or disappointing surprise; "it came as a shock to learn that he was injured"
stunner - an unexpected and amazing event; "the stunner was what happened on Saturday"
surprise - cause to be surprised; "The news really surprised me"
amaze, astonish, astound - affect with wonder; "Your ability to speak six languages amazes me!"
explode a bombshell - utter or do something surprising; "Father exploded a bombshell when he forbade us to go to the prom"
catch - discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state; "She caught her son eating candy"; "She was caught shoplifting"
impress, strike, affect, move - have an emotional or cognitive impact upon; "This child impressed me as unusually mature"; "This behavior struck me as odd"
surprise - come upon or take unawares; "She surprised the couple"; "He surprised an interesting scene"
act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
blindside - catch unawares, especially with harmful consequences; "The economic downturn blindsided many investors"
attack, assail - launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with; "Hitler attacked Poland on September 1, 1939 and started World War II"; "Serbian forces assailed Bosnian towns all week"
2.catch unawares or off-guard, catch napping, catch on the hop(informal), burst in on, spring upon, catch in the act or red-handed, come down on like a bolt from the blueThe army surprised their enemy near the village of Blenheim.
Quotations "Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable" [Jane Austen Emma]
2. (as tactic) → sorpresaf the element of surprise → el elementosorpresa to catch or take sb by surprise → cogeror (LAm) tomar a algn por sorpresa
3. (= unexpected thing) → sorpresaf I have a surprise for you → tengo una sorpresa para ti what a lovely surprise! → ¡qué sorpresamásortanagradable! all this comes as something of a surprise → todo esto es en cierto modo una sorpresa it may come as a surprise to some people → puede que algunos se lleven una sorpresa it came as a surprise to me to learn that → me llevé una sorpresa al enterarme de que ... life is full of surprises → la vida está llena de sorpresas to give sb a surprise → dar una sorpresa a algn
(= unexpected event, news) → surprisef I have a surprise for you → J'ai une surprise pour vous. to be a surprise to sb, to come as a surprise to sb This ruling was a surprise to everyone → Cette décision fut une surprise pour tout lemonde. It came as a surprise to me → Cela a été une surprise pour moi. to take by surprise [+ person] → prendre au dépourvu(MILITARY) [+ town, fort] → prendre par surprise surprise, surprise! (meeting somebody) → surprise, surprise!(humorous) → vous parlez d'une surprise
(= astonishment) → surprisef to my surprise → à ma surprise to my great surprise → à ma grandesurprise in surprise → surpris(e) He looked at me in surprise → Il me regarda, surpris.
(the feeling caused by) something sudden or unexpected. His statement caused some surprise; Your letter was a pleasant surprise; There were some nasty surprises waiting for her when she returned; He stared at her in surprise; To my surprise the door was unlocked; (also adjective) He paid them a surprise visit. verrassing مُفاجأَه изненада surpresa překvapení, údiv; neočekávaný die Überraschung overraskelse; overraskelses- έκπληξηsorpresa üllatus غير مترقبه yllätys surpriseהפתעה आश्चर्य iznenađenje, prepad meglepetés kejutan undrun, furða sorpresa 驚き 놀람 nustebimas, nuostaba, netikėtumas, siurprizas; netikėtas pārsteigums; izbrīns; pārsteiguma- mengejut verrassingoverraskelse, forbauselsezaskoczenie, niespodzianka غیر مترقبه ، حیرانول surpresa surpriză удивление; неожиданность; сюрприз prekvapenie; neočakávaný presenečenje iznenađenje överraskning, förvåning สิ่งที่ทำให้ประหลาดใจ şaşkınlık, sürpriz 驚奇 здивування حیرت، تعجب sự ngạc nhiên, sự bất ngờ 惊奇
verb
1. to cause to feel surprise. The news surprised me. verras يُفاجِئ изненадвам (се) surpreender překvapit überraschen overraske εκπλήσσωsorprender üllatama متعجب كردن yllättää surprendre לְהַפתִיעַ आश्चर्यचकित करना iznenaditi meglep mengejutkan koma á óvart sorprendere 驚かせる 놀라게하다 nustebinti pārsteigt mengejutkan verrassenoverraske, forbausezadziwić, zaskoczyć حیرانول، متعجب کول surpreender a surprinde удивлять prekvapiť presenetiti iznenaditi överraska, förvåna ทำให้ประหลาดใจ şaşırtmak 使驚奇 дивувати, вражати حیران ہونا، تعجب کرنا làm ngạc nhiên, làm kinh ngạc 使惊奇
2. to lead, by means of surprise, into doing something. Her sudden question surprised him into betraying himself. verras يُذْهِل، يُباغِت нападам внезапно tomar de surpresa překvapit (tak, že...) verleiten overrumple αιφνιδιάζω, ξαφνιάζωsorprender, coger desprevenido eksitama غافلگير كردن hämmästyttää surprendre לְהַפתִיעַ घबराकर करा देना navesti koga (na što) meglepetésében ... mengejutkan vekja undrun og koma þannig e-u til leiðar sorprendere 驚かせて~させる 놀라게 해 (~하게) 하다 priversti (ką nors padaryti) pārsteigt un likt (kaut ko) darīt secara mengejut onverhoeds ertoe brengen få/narre til å gjøre zaskoczyć ناڅاپه ګیرول، غافلګیر کول levar pela surpresa a surprinde вынудить prekvapiť (tak, že ...) zapeljati iznenaditi genom överrumpling förmå, förleda จู่โจม şaşırtıp bir şey yaptırmak 出其不意地使某人做某事 примусити до دماح چکرا دینا bất thình lình đẩy đến chỗ 出其不意地使某人做某事
3. to find, come upon, or attack, without warning. They surprised the enemy from the rear. verras يُهاجِمُ على حينِ غِرَّه، يُباغِت сварвам неподготвен surpreender přepadnout überrumpeln overraske αιφνιδιάζωsorprender ootamatult tabama بي خبر حمله كردن yllättää surprendre לְהַפתִיעַ पर सहसा आक्रमण करना, पर अचानक टूट पड़ना izvršiti prepad rajtakap vkit vmin menyerang dengan tiba-tiba koma í opna skjöldu, gera skyndiárás sorprendere 不意打ちにする 갑짜기 공격하다 užklupti pārsteigt; pēkšņi uzbrukt menyerang secara mengejut verrassenoverraskezaskoczyć بی خبره حمله کول surpreender a surprinde внезапно нападать prepadnúť presenetiti iznenaditi överrumpla จู่โจมโดยไม่ให้ตั้งตัว gafil avlamak, baskın yapmak 突然襲擊 наскочити, застати зненацька بغیر اطلاع کے حملہ کرنا đột kích, đánh úp 突然袭击
surˈprised adjective
showing or feeling surprise. his surprised face; I'm surprised (that) he's not here; You behaved badly – I'm surprised at you!; I wouldn't be surprised if he won. verras wees مُتَفاجِئ، مُنْذَهِل، مُنْدَهِش изненадан surpreendido překvapený überrascht overrasket έκπληκτοςsorprendido üllatunud متعجب yllättynyt surpris לִהיוֹת מוּפתָע आश्चर्यचकित होना iznenađen, začuđen meglepett terkejut sem er hissa sorpreso 驚いた 놀란 nustebęs pārsteigts; izbrīnīts terkejut verbaasdoverrasket, forundretzdziwiony متعجب surpreendido surprins удивлённый prekvapený presenečen iznenađen överraskad, förvånad แปลกใจ şaşırmış 吃驚的 здивований حیران ہونے والا ngạc nhiên 吃惊的
surˈprising adjective
likely to cause surprise. surprising news; It is not surprising that he resigned. verrassend مُفاجئ، مُذْهِل، مُدهِش изненадващ surpreendente překvapivý überraschend overraskende εκπληκτικόςsorprendente üllatav تعجب آور yllättävä surprenantמפתיע आश्चर्यजनक, विलक्षण, निराला iznenađujući, neočekivan meglepő mengejutkan óvæntur sorprendente 驚くべき 놀라운 stebinantis pārsteidzošs mengejutkan verrassendoverraskende, forbausendezadziwiający, zaskakujący تعجب اور surpreendente surprinzător, uimitor удивительный prekvapivý presenetljiv iznenadan överraskande, förvånande ที่ทำให้ประหลาดใจ şaşırtıcı 驚人的 несподіваний; дивний حیران کن gây ngạc nhiên 惊人的
surˈprisingly adverb
Surprisingly, he did win. wat verrassend is بصورةٍ مُفاجِئَه изненадващо surpreendentemente kupodivu überraschederweise overraskende απροσδόκητα para sorpresa, sorprendentemente üllatuslikult بطرز شگفت آوري yllättävästi étonnammentבמפתיע आश्चर्यजनक ढंग से, निराले ढंग से, असाधारण ढंग से neočekivano meglepően secara mengejutkan þó undarlegt megi virðast sorprendentemente 驚いたことに 놀랍게도 nelauktai, netikėtai pārsteidzoši; neticami yang mengejutkan verbazend genoeg overraskende zadziwiająco, ku ogólnemu zdziwieniu په حیرانونکی ډول surpreendentemente în mod surprinzător/uimitor удивительно napodiv presenetljivo iznenađujuće överraskande [nog], förvånansvärt [nog] อย่างไม่คาดฝันมาก่อน şaşılacak derecede 出人意外地 несподівано; дивно حیران کن طریقے سے ngạc nhiên 出人意外地
take by surprise
1. to catch unawares. The news took me by surprise. onverhoeds betrap يُفاجئ، يُباغِت сварвам неподготвен apanhar de surpresa překvapit überrumpeln overraske πιάνω στον ύπνο, αιφνιδιάζω coger por sorpresa, coger desprevenido ootamatult tabama غافلگير كردن yllättää prendre par surprise לִהיוֹת מוּפתָע ताजुब में डालना zaskočiti, iznenaditi meglep mengejutkan koma á óvart cogliere di sorpresa 驚かす 놀라게 하다 netikėtai užklupti pārsteigt mengejutkan overrompelen overraske en zaskoczyć غافلګیره کول apanhar de surpresa a lua prin surprindere заставать врасплох prekvapiť presenetiti iznenaditi överraska ไม่รู้ตัวมาก่อน hazırlıksız yakalamak 使吃驚 захопити зненацька اچانک ہونا جب اس کی توقع نہ ہو thình lình xảy ra làm cho ai sửng sốt 使吃惊
2. to capture (a fort etc) by a sudden, unexpected attack. verrassingsaanval loods يَقوم بِهُجومٍ مُباغِت ويَحْتَلُّ مَوقِعا عَسْكَرِيّا изненадвам tomar de surpresa dobýt přepadem überrumpeln overraske αιφνιδιάζω, καταλαμβάνω εξαπίνης atacar por sorpresa, sorprender äkkrünnakuga vallutama بي خبر حمله كردن vallata yllätyshyökkäyksellä prendre par un coup de main הַתקָפַת פֶּתַע अचानक हमला कर कब्जा करना zauzeti na prepad rajtaütésszerűen elfoglal merebut dengan tiba-tiba ná á sitt vald með óvæntri árás prendere di sorpresa 不意打ちにする 기습으로 함락시키다 staiga užimti ieņemt pēkšņā uzbrukumā merampas secara tiba-tiba overrompelenoverraske złapać/zdobyć przez zaskoczenie بی خبره حمله کول tomar de surpresa a surprinde захватывать внезапной атакой prepadnúť presenetiti iznenaditi ta med överraskning, överrumpla จู่โจมอย่างไม่รู้ตัว gafil avlamak 冷不防地捉住 захопити (когось) зненацька کسی جگہ پر اچانک حملہ کر دینا đánh chiếm bất ngờ, đánh úp 冷不防地捉住
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