# element of surprise

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/element-of-surprise
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- The team used the element of surprise to win the game.
- By arriving at the meeting an hour early, she used the element of surprise to catch her competitors off guard.
- The general planned a midnight maneuver, relying entirely on the element of surprise to overwhelm the enemy forces before they could organize a defense.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.