take aback

驚かせる、面食らわせる

どう反応すればよいか分からなくなるほど、人を驚かせること。

やさしい英語で： To surprise someone so much that they feel unsure how to react.

• Her question took me aback.
• We were taken aback by the size of the bill.
• Were you taken aback when he announced his resignation?

使い方： be taken aback by something (I was taken aback by her angry reply.); take someone aback (His sudden question took me aback.)

類義語： surprise, startle, shock

よく使う表現： take someone aback, take aback someone

帆に逆風を受けさせる

船の帆が突然、通常とは逆の側から風を受けること。

やさしい英語で： To catch a sailing ship suddenly with wind pressing against the wrong side of its sails.

• The ship was taken aback.
• A sudden gust took the small vessel aback.
• The crew reacted quickly when their ship was taken aback.

使い方： a ship is taken aback (The ship was taken aback by a sudden change in the wind.)

よく使う表現： take something aback, take aback a ship