Take aback
verb
1.
(transitive, adverb) to astonish or disconcert
Surprise, shock, as in He was taken aback by her caustic remark. This idiom comes from nautical terminology of the mid-1700s, when be taken aback referred to the stalling of a ship caused by a wind shift that made the sails lay back against the masts. Its figurative use was first recorded in 1829.
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- Take a back seat
noun 1. a seat at the rear. Idioms 2. take a backseat, to occupy a secondary or inferior position: Her writing has taken a backseat because of other demands on her time. tailspin take a back seat Occupy an inferior position; allow another to be in control. For example, Linda was content to take a […]
- Take a beating
take a back seat
- Take a break
take a bath take a break Interrupt one’s activity briefly, as in We’ve been working for two hours; let’s take a break . Also see take five
- Take a bye
take a beating
- Take a chance
Risk something, gamble, as in I’ll take a chance that he’ll be on the next plane. [ c. 1900 ]