# take aback

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-aback
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To surprise or shock; to discomfit.

## Examples

- The sudden news took me aback.
- Your rude comment takes me aback.
- The cold weather takes the tourists aback.
- I was taken aback when my boss announced that the office would close next month.
- The quiet student took the whole class aback when she stood up and started singing perfectly in a foreign language.
- We were taken aback by the high price of the meal after the waiter brought the bill to our table.
- The dog's friendly reaction to the stranger took the owner aback, as the pet usually barks loudly at anyone who walks through the front gate.
- The candidate was visibly taken aback by the unexpected question, struggling for a moment to regain his composure before answering.

## Origin

From the verb *take* and the adverb *aback*, the term emerged from the nautical requirement to describe a ship's sails being pressed against the mast by a sudden shift in wind. Such a shift brought the vessel to a standstill, which was considered an undesirable development for the navigator. The figurative use for a person encountering a sudden social or mental arrest appeared by the late 18th century.

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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.