surprise

sur|prise¹ W2S3 [səˈpraız US sər-] n

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1¦(event)¦

2¦(feeling)¦

3 take/catch somebody by surprise

4 take somebody/something by surprise

5¦(gift/party etc)¦

6 surprise guest/visitor etc

7 surprise!

8

9¦(method)¦

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[Date: 1400-1500; : Old French; Origin: , past participle of surprendre 'to take over, surprise', from sur- ( SURCHARGE) + prendre 'to take']

1.) ¦(EVENT)¦

an unexpected or unusual event

→↑shock

▪ What a surprise to find you here!

surprise visit/announcement/attack etc

▪ Naomi paid a surprise visit to her old school in London.

▪ a surprise attack at midnight

come as a surprise (to sb)

(=happen unexpectedly)

▪ The triumph came as a surprise to many fans.

▪ It should come as no surprise (=you should expect it to happen) that cycling builds leg strength.

there is a surprise in store (for sb)

(=something unexpected is going to happen to them)

▪ If you go to Ontario in summer, you're in for a few surprises .

2.) ¦(FEELING)¦ [U and C]

the feeling you have when something unexpected or unusual happens

→↑shock

▪ The man had a look of surprise on his face.

get/have a surprise

▪ She got a surprise when she turned the letter over. It was from Finn.

in/with surprise

▪ Bill looked at him in surprise.

to sb's surprise

(=in a way that surprises someone)

▪ Much to his surprise she gave him her phone number.

▪ To everyone's surprise, they got married.

3.) take/catch sb by surprise

to happen unexpectedly

▪ The question took her by surprise.

4.) take sb/sth by surprise

to suddenly attack a place or an opponent when they are not ready

▪ The guerrillas were killed when army troops took them by surprise.

5.) ¦(GIFT/PARTY ETC)¦ [C usually singular]

an unexpected present, trip etc which you give to someone or organize for them, often on a special occasion

surprise for

▪ 'I've got a surprise for you,' she said.

6.) surprise guest/visitor etc

someone who arrives somewhere unexpectedly

7.) surprise!

spoken used when you are just about to show someone something that you know will surprise them

8.) a) surprise, surprise

used when saying in a joking way that you expected something to happen or be true

▪ The American TV networks are, surprise, surprise, full of stories about the election.

b) BrE spoken used when you suddenly appear in front of someone who you know is not expecting to see you

9.) ¦(METHOD)¦[U]

the use of methods which are intended to cause surprise

▪ An element of surprise is important to any attack.

surprise ²

surprise² v [T]

1.) to make someone feel surprised

→↑shock

▪ His strange question surprised her.

it surprises sb to see/find/know etc

▪ It had surprised me to find how fussy he was about some things.

▪ I didn't know you two knew each other. Mind you, it doesn't surprise me .

▪ What surprised me most was that she didn't seem to care.

it surprises sb (that)

▪ Looking back, does it surprise you that she left?

▪ It wouldn't surprise me if he married Jo.

2.) to find, catch, or attack someone when they are not expecting it, especially when they are doing something they should not be doing

▪ A security guard surprised the burglars in the storeroom.