Definition

Phrasal verb: - To cause someone to be very surprised, shocked, or astonished, often to the point of being temporarily unable to speak or react.

Usage

This phrasal verb is used to describe the act of surprising someone so much that they are momentarily stunned or disconcerted. It is almost always used in the passive voice: to be taken aback. The subject of the sentence is the person who is surprised.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• To be taken aback by something: This is the most common construction, specifying the cause of the surprise.
  • The committee was taken aback by the sheer number of applications.
• To be taken aback at something: Used similarly to "by," though slightly less common.
  • He was taken aback at her direct question.

Variants and Related Words

• Aback (adverb): While rarely used alone in modern English outside of this phrase, it historically means "by surprise" or "backwards." The phrase "take aback" originates from sailing, where a sudden wind change could push the sails backward against the mast, stopping the ship's progress.

Synonyms

• Astonish: To fill with sudden and overpowering surprise.
• Stun: To shock or overwhelm so as to make temporarily unable to react.
• Floor (informal): To completely surprise or shock someone (as in the reference example: "I was floored...").
• Startle: To cause a sudden slight shock or fright.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Knock someone's socks off (idiomatic/informal): To greatly impress or amaze someone.
  • The final performance really knocked the judges' socks off.
• Throw someone off balance: To confuse or surprise someone, disrupting their composure.
  • The unexpected question threw the speaker off balance.

Related Idioms

• To be lost for words: To be so surprised, shocked, or emotional that one cannot think of anything to say. This is often the result of being taken aback.
  • The generous gift left her completely lost for words.

Verb

1. surprise greatly; knock someone's socks off
   • I was floored when I heard that I was promoted