Related Content
- Daily Word Quiz: raconteur
- Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy
- Frequently Misspelled Words
- Frequently Mispronounced Words
- Easily Confused Words
- Writing & Language
I was taken aback—I was greatly astonished—taken by surprise—startled. It is a sea term. A ship is “taken aback” when the sails are suddenly carried by the wind back against the mast, instantly staying the ship's progress—very dangerous in a strong gale.
Related Content
|