Take aback

I was rather taken aback by his angry reply.

The bad news took us aback.

I was, at first, a little taken aback and astounded at the bulk of the volume; but, I turned out early this morning, and with eager hope and expectation set doggedly to work in search of the promised consolation.

I would rather board a hundred of the enemy's frigates, than steer my boat into a fleet of modest women, for a modest woman never fails to take me aback.

Frank was taken aback when Lisa told him that she also needed forgiveness from him, for actions, for words, and for unspoken thoughts.

In a way, he was taken aback by the absence of discouragement.

She was not taken aback to find he lived in a ramshackle log hut among the trees.

She was a little taken aback to find the front door of heavy oak unlocked.

Zervas was rather taken aback to learn that Ares Veloutiotes, the communist leader, was on his way to the village because there was no friendship between them.

The physiologist is taken aback.