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Take somebody/something by surprise

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LampPro Tip 1/3

Emotional Impact

This phrase often conveys a strong emotional reaction to an unexpected event.

Illustration for Emotional Impact
Her emotional speech took the audience by surprise.
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Unpredictable Events

Use this phrase when something happens suddenly, without warning and was hard to predict.

Illustration for Unpredictable Events
The storm took the hikers by surprise.
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Neutral Contexts

While often used for negative events, it can also be neutral or positive.

Illustration for Neutral Contexts
The pop quiz took the students by surprise.
Visual representation of the word "Take somebody/something by surprise"

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