surprise1 nounsurprise2 verb
surprisesur‧prise1 /səˈpraɪz $ sər-/ ●●● S3 W2 noun 
WORD ORIGINsurprise1
Origin:
1400-1500 Old French past participle of surprendre ‘to take over, surprise’, from sur- ( ➔ SURCHARGE) + prendre ‘to take’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Hal! What a surprise to see you here.
- I've got a little surprise waiting for you at home.
- I expressed some surprise at the elaborate welcome which had been prepared for me.
- Sam stared at his girlfriend in surprise. "What are you doing here?'' he asked.
- To everyone's complete surprise, the Labour Party lost the election.
- You can imagine my surprise when I saw my sister's photograph on a magazine cover.
- And I've always liked to be ready for surprises, especially the lethal sort.
- But in a surprise move Short and Kasparov snubbed the ruling body and rejected the offer.
- He rolled back the leather covering and heard Selkirk's gasp of surprise.
- Many readers expressed surprise at the findings, but I was not among them.
- Normally she was animated - laughing, frowning, grimacing, registering surprise or scepticism or compassion.
- Police had been taken by surprise as fifteen thousand travellers converged on the area.
- This came as no surprise to Dee Dee, our all-purpose advice columnist, who has long suspected the link.
- To my surprise he said I might.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something happens that you did not expect
something that is unexpected surprises you because you did not expect it: · There have been unexpected delays on the freeway because of an accident.completely/totally unexpected: · Bobby's decision to leave the band was totally unexpected.
: unforeseen circumstances/problems/changes etc situations, problems, changes etc that you did not expect or prepare for, and which usually cause you difficulty: · We had to cancel our visit to Egypt because of unforeseen problems.· Once you have started the training you will not be allowed to leave, unless unforeseen circumstances arise.
if something that happens is a surprise or comes as a surprise , you did not expect it to happen, and so you are surprised by it: · Winning the award was a total surprise.be a surprise/come as a surprise to: · Fazio's announcement came as a surprise to most political observers.
informal if something happens out of the blue , you did not expect it, and you are very surprised or shocked by it: · Out of the blue, he asked me to come with him to Europe.· One evening, Angela phoned me out of the blue and said she was in some kind of trouble.
informal one that you did not expect, so that you are very surprised: · Mary's the last person you'd expect to be stopped for drunk driving· It's such a quiet little village - it's the last place you'd expect something like this to happen.
to happen or do something when someone is not expecting it and not ready to deal with it: · I was caught unawares by the hug and the kiss he gave me.· Her rude comments really caught me off guard.
formal if something happens contrary to expectations , it is the opposite of what people expected to happen: · Contrary to expectations, the play was a big success.contrary to somebody's expectations: · Michael won the competition, contrary to everyone's expectations.
happening unexpectedly, because no one was told about it: · Investigators from the health department made unannounced visits to the hospital in March.arrive unannounced/show up unannounced: · My brother is famous for showing up at our houses unannounced, usually around dinner time.
if something happens that you did not expect in your wildest dreams , it is so good that you never thought that there was any possibility that it could happen: · In our wildest dreams, we could not have expected how successful this program would be.never in somebody's wildest dreams: · Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would win the gold medal.
if you get more than you had bargained for , you have more problems or difficulties while doing something than you had expected or prepared for: · Their summer vacation turned out to be much more expensive than they'd bargained for.· We got more than we bargained for when we bought the house. There's so much work to be done!
when things happens in the way you expected if something happens as expected , it happens exactly in the way that people expected it to happen: · As expected, the three men were sentenced to life imprisonment.· Tulsa beat New Mexico as expected in last night's game.as was/had been expected: · Yesterday, as had been expected, the government announced its intention to launch a public enquiry.
if something that happens is no surprise or comes as no surprise , it is exactly as you expected, so you are not surprised by it: · After a series of scandals, Fleischman's resignation comes as no surprise.be no surprise/come as no surprise to: · Tina was shocked when she heard she was not being promoted, but it came as no surprise to the rest of us.be/come as no great surprise: · The fact that Brown has decided to run for reelection comes as no great surprise.it is/comes as no surprise that: · It's no surprise that Jeff and his wife are getting divorced.be no surprise/come as no surprise to hear/discover/find etc: · It was no surprise to hear that Joel had messed the whole thing up again.
happening as you expect - use this especially about someone's behaviour, when you think they are boring or stupid because they always do exactly what you expect: · My dad's so predictable - every evening he comes home, has two beers, and falls asleep in front of the TV.· The movie was completely predictable - I couldn't wait for it to end.
if something, especially something bad or unpleasant, is only to be expected , it is what you should expect in that situation: · A few mistakes were only to be expected when you're cooking something for the first time.it is only to be expected that: · When you're over 60, it's only to be expected that you can't do as much as you used to.
to be what you would normally expect to happen in a particular situation: · If you want to be a politician, a little criticism is par for the course.· It seems in some of those countries that political torture and assassination are par for the course.
spoken say this when something happens that you expected to happen: · I'm not surprised she left him - look at the way he treated her!· Of course I'm disappointed that we lost, but I'm not really surprised.
a feeling of being surprised: somebody's surprise · You can imagine my surprise when I saw my sister's photograph on a magazine cover.surprise at · I expressed some surprise at the elaborate welcome which had been prepared for me.in/with surprise · Sam stared at his girlfriend in surprise. "What are you doing here?'' he asked.to somebody's surprise/to the surprise of somebody · To everyone's complete surprise, the Labour Party lost the election.
a feeling of great surprise, especially because something has happened that you almost cannot believe: in/with amazement: · Fans looked on in amazement as Robbins missed a third goal for the team.· Nina looked at me with amazement. "I don't believe you," she said.to somebody's amazement/to the amazement of somebody: · To our amazement, when we returned to China, the Moso tree had grown an impressive ninety feet.
a feeling of great surprise, especially at something you have seen or something someone has told you: · You should have seen the look of astonishment on his face!in/with astonishment: · Everyone gasped in astonishment as the cars came around the last bend.to somebody's astonishment/to the astonishment of somebody: · To everyone's astonishment, more than 100 people volunteered to help that day.
something that happens which surprises you something that you did not expect, especially something nice: it is a surprise: · It was a real surprise when Tony walked in. We thought he was still in America.· We've got Katie a bike for her birthday, but don't tell her - it's a surprise.a complete surprise (=one that you did not expect at all): · Anita didn't expect to get the job - it came as a complete surprise.as a surprise: · Apparently her husband bought her the car as an anniversary surprise.what a surprise! spoken: · Flowers? For me! What a lovely surprise!
something bad or unpleasant that happens to you that you did not expect: · "The bill came to £500." "That must have been a shock."get a shock: · We got a terrible shock when the police rang to say that they had arrested our daughter.give somebody a shock: · It gave me a shock when I realized how close I had come to being killed.
happening unexpectedly so that people are surprised: · Josh's friends gave him a surprise party to celebrate his 21st birthday.· The US were concerned about the possibility of a surprise attack by air or by sea.· Later, there was a surprise appearance by Schwazenneger himself.
unpleasantly surprising because the result is different from what you expected: · Liverpool suffered a shock defeat at Halifax last night, beaten by five goals to nil.· The chairman made a shock announcement that 500 employees would lose their jobs.
to make someone surprised · Diana's reaction surprised him - he hadn't realized that she was so upset.· The exam was actually quite easy, which surprised me.what surprises somebody is · What surprised me most was how cheap everything was compared to at home.it surprises somebody that · I have to say, it surprises me that they haven't gone bankrupt before now.surprise yourself (=do something that you thought you could not do, so that you are surprised) · Why don't you just have a go at skiing? You might surprise yourself.
if something is a surprise , or if it comes as a surprise , it surprises you: · "Bob and Linda are getting divorced.'' "That's a surprise -- they seemed like the perfect couple.''· The firing of the team's star pitcher came as a surprise to fans and sports writers alike.a complete surprise (=a big surprise): · My brother's sudden visit home was a complete surprise.be a surprise/come as a surprise to somebody: · The announcement of his resignation was a complete surprise to everyone in the office.it comes as a surprise to see/learn/find etc: · It comes as a surprise to learn what a high rate of illiteracy there is in this country.
to make someone feel extremely surprised, especially because something is very hard to believe: · Dave amazed his friends by leaving a well-paid job to travel around the world.it amazes somebody that: · It amazes me that no-one has thought of the idea sooner.
to make someone feel extremely surprised: · My father's reaction astounded me. How could he be so calm!· Tammy astonished her doctors by learning to walk again within weeks of the accident.· They astounded audiences with their fanciful costumes and their fascinating tales.what astonishes/astounds somebody is: · What astonishes me is how incredibly inefficient so many companies seem to be.
also catch somebody by surprise American if something takes you by surprise , it happens at a time when you are not expecting it: · The President's resignation took everyone by surprise.· The vehemence of her response took me by surprise.
not surprising if something is not surprising or hardly surprising , you are not surprised by it because the situation makes it very likely to happen: · Now she's frightened to go out at night, which is hardly surprising after what happened to her.it is not surprising/hardly surprising (that): · It's not surprising that you're tired - you've been out every night this week.
if something is no surprise or comes as no surprise , you are not surprised when it happens, because you expected it to happen: it is no surprise/it comes as no surprise: · It came as no surprise when President Santos announced his resignation.· Both Jade's parents are doctors so it was no surprise when she went to medical school.be no surprise/come as no surprise that: · After years of struggle, it came as no surprise that the company went bankrupt.be no surprise/come as no surprise to: · It was no surprise to anyone when they finally said that they were getting a divorce.
spoken say this when you are not surprised about something bad that has happened because you can clearly see the reasons for it: · "I'm starving." "I'm not surprised, you haven't eaten all day.''I'm not surprised (that): · I'm not surprised that she's fed up with him.
spoken say this when you realize the reason why something happened, so that it is not surprising any more: · No wonder my camera wasn't working - there's no battery in it!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues. Their engagement came as a complete surprise to me. a story with a happy ending He was genuinely concerned for the children. She was surprised to learn that he was a lot older than she had thought. It gave me a nasty shock. What a nice surprise! Kate! What a pleasant surprise! Clare yelled in pain as she fell. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored. The water was hotter than she had expected, and she gave an involuntary yelp.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· His decision to marry was a complete surprise.
(=be surprising)· The announcement came as a surprise to most people.
· We got a surprise when we got home and found him waiting for us.
· She wanted to give him a surprise.
(=be planning to give someone a surprise)· I think Jenny might have a surprise for you.
(=give someone a surprise)· The chairman sprang a surprise this week by announcing his intention to quit.
adjectives· The results were a big surprise.
· The news came as a complete surprise.
· It’s a lovely surprise to see you.
· We don’t want any unpleasant surprises.
phrases (=not be surprising)· It came as no surprise when Lester got the job.
(=be going to have a surprise)· Compare our prices. You’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.
(=something unexpected is going to happen)· There were plenty more surprises in store for him.
surprise + NOUN· Environmental health inspectors made a surprise visit to the restaurant.
· His friends had planned a surprise party for him.
· In a surprise announcement the company said they were withdrawing their planning application.
· She came to power in 1977, after a surprise victory in the general election.
· Instead they launched a successful surprise attack on the castle.
(=an unexpected action)· In a surprise move, the government lifted the ban on arms exports to the country.
COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘a bad surprise’. Say an unpleasant surprise or a nasty surprise.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· The Senator made the surprise announcement that he will not be seeking re-election.
· We launched a surprise attack on their camp just before dawn.
The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues. Their engagement came as a complete surprise to me. a story with a happy ending· ‘I don’t believe he could hurt anyone,’ she said, expressing her surprise.
· He didn’t need to speak – his shocked expression said it all.
(=one showing that you are surprised)· He looked at me with an expression of surprise.
He was genuinely concerned for the children. She was surprised to learn that he was a lot older than she had thought. (=one that expresses a particular feeling) There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd.
There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd. It gave me a nasty shock. formal (=react to the news in a particular way)· Fans greeted the news of the victory with a loud cheer.
What a nice surprise!· Amy has planned a surprise party for his birthday.
Kate! What a pleasant surprise!· He smiled at Donna’s expression of shocked surprise.
(=one that the person being visited does not know is going to happen)· Naomi paid a surprise visit to an old school friend.
Clare yelled in pain as she fell. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored. The water was hotter than she had expected, and she gave an involuntary yelp.· This was a big surprise to us, and indeed, in some respects rather embarrassing.· But it was a big surprise to me and my family.· The biggest surprise was he did not miss!· That is one of the big surprises for many entrepreneurs.· Qusay, 34, was the big surprise.· Cal has been the biggest surprise.· It had been a big surprise to the nomes.· On that day I was ordered to close my eyes and await a big surprise.
· His kiss was a complete surprise.· Be prepared financially, so that the need for extra capital outlays does not come as a complete surprise.· It took me by complete surprise.· His visit home had been a complete surprise.· This result came as a complete surprise to me and everyone else, and it was greeted with general disbelief.· Yet it should not have been a complete surprise.· The instruction to evacuate the buildings came as a complete surprise.· Once in the palace the brother and his friend could trust to their own swords and the complete surprise of their attack.
· The desert is full of surprises.· Her daughter was curious, inventive and full of surprises, Carol Coburn says.· This one was full of reassuring surprises.· For our family it was the gentlest of introductions to an island full of surprises.· It was a walk full of surprises.· The general chemistry of dithiadiazoles is full of surprises.· The result is a mixed and discontinuous exhibition, full of surprises, but also a record of frustration and disappointment.· It will be full of surprises and amazing special effects and is a treat not to be missed.
· Our conversation, to my great surprise, appeared to take a secondary place in his thoughts.· This was no great surprise, or only a brief one.· She pretended a greater surprise than she felt that the leader of those upon the bridle path was Lord Wyatt.· To my great surprise, the television crews gathered round in order to interview me about my project.· A.R. Did your experience at drama school come as a great surprise to you?· As before, still-lifes offered the greatest surprises.· It therefore comes as no great surprise that these systems are not easily linked up to talk to one another.· The clutch of recent paperback thrillers was no great surprise to her.
· And here's another little surprise.· Every once in a while, there are little surprises.· She might never have ironed shirts, but she too had once upon a time brought Jacob little surprises, little presents.· This was the little surprise he was keeping for the end.· It was with a little fillip of surprise that Pascoe realized she hadn't recognized his voice.· The problem was: What little surprise would I pull next?· It is little surprise that legend and lore should have built up around it.· And if coverage by the tabloids has missed some of the debate's subtleties, perhaps that is little surprise.
· No wrong questions, no mock surprise.· With mock surprise, he settled into the love seat, draping his arms along its top.
· But when you get hold of the document and look at the detail you're in for a nasty surprise.· What further nasty surprises awaited me that day?· Naturally, the tricky business of welding the Germanies together could still bring nasty surprises.· Outside, all was danger and sudden, nasty surprises.· There were rarely any nasty surprises.
· On the other, it's full of not so nice surprises.· What followed was a nice surprise.· It was not the best car I've driven this year, but it was the biggest and nicest surprise.· That would be a nice surprise.· I might just do that; it would give him a nice surprise.
· Your bank balance might be given a pleasant surprise.· It may turn out to be a pleasant surprise or a not-so-pretty sight.· This is a pleasant surprise, on two counts.· It was a pleasant surprise to find a paperback edition of the Henkes book included in the package.· But the main and most pleasant surprise was the sense of camaraderie among climbers in the Alps.· In fact, the comfortable ride was our most pleasant surprise.· Have the courage to show the world who you really are and you may be in for a pleasant surprise.· It may come as a pleasant surprise that a few members of Congress are attempting to steer a drastically different course.
· That Hewlett-Packard Co is thought to be lining up for a piece of Taligent, should come as no real surprise.· This goofy, affable, golden-retriever of a movie trots along offering modest pleasures and no real surprises.· You will always be welcomed, but the real surprise is to see how beautifully most chapels are kept.· As for the big categories, nobody expects any real surprises.· It's a real surprise because we thought they'd split last year.· The real surprise is that they played so badly down the stretch in both games and still managed to win.· The ulcer was no real surprise.· Spring always brings the real surprise, or rather horror, of the live fish retail industry.
· All this has come as an unpleasant surprise to Hong Kong's officials.· Those who shorted McAfee, however, had an unpleasant surprise.· Now she knew she was in for an unpleasant surprise.· No crippling Whitewater developments or unpleasant October surprises appeared.· This will reduce the possibility of unpleasant surprises.· Party officials' in the towns the unpleasant surprise of losing jobs to which they had become all too comfortably accustomed.· We may be in for an unpleasant surprise.· Conversation with her was a series of small unpleasant surprises.
NOUN· The philanthropic family's largesse was echoed by surprise announcements from both the Federal and provincial governments.· But on Friday, Apple made a surprise announcement.
· Speed of pursuit and a surprise attack gave Abram victory.· In the surprise attack, they torched the town and rounded up its inhabitants.· This would increase the warning time of any possible surprise attack.· No world leader would try to launch a surprise attack because the response would be terminal for his own nation.· His surprise attack routed the Chaos forces in the woods around the White Tower.· That could provide clues about who was behind the surprise attack.· It was also important to demonstrate the ability of nuclear forces to ride out a surprise attack.· Officially you are all going to be victims of a surprise attack on the rescue party by the native inhabitants.
· And a brilliant friend as he showed on a surprise visit to Abingdon.· Naomi paid a surprise visit to her old school - London's Italia Conti acting academy.
VERB· He caught me by surprise and I sounded foolish.· Welch and I had a rather heated exchange about the appropriateness of his editorial interference, which had caught me by surprise.· Billy had caught him by surprise.· The chill in the air caught me by surprise, a sharp mountain night breeze.· He'd caught her by surprise, that was all.· He dipped her, catching her by surprise, letting her drop backwards.· So the two white girls standing in front of the mirrors are caught by surprise.· They too were caught by surprise.
· All this has come as an unpleasant surprise to Hong Kong's officials.· Her answer came as a surprise.· The smile may have come as a surprise to connoisseurs of the pictures of him which have been issued to the world.· Which should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard his songs.· It came as no surprise to find that the local translator in Sochi had muddled up the names.· None of this comes as a surprise.· Today's developments came as no surprise to journalists at Coach and Bus Week.· It certainly comes as a surprise or shock to hear some scholars cheering the decline in government and foundation money for research.
· Mancham expressed surprise at the results and called for a recount.· He expressed surprise when he learned we were staying there because he thought it was so expensive.· Pearce expressed surprise and said that this was the first he had heard of it.· She expressed no surprise on learning that the second child was also a daughter.· Otherwise, he'd never have expressed surprise at the news that he and Ixora were living together.· Some people have expressed surprise at learning the U. S. Chamber of Commerce is taking such a keen interest in welfare reform.· Afterwards, he expressed surprise that the Post Office had not been invited to send a representative.· The band often finds a radio-ravaged fan after a show who expresses surprise and delight in the retro sound.
· To their surprise, they found that some schools had grown in number from one week to the next.· To his surprise she was found to be partial to peas.· It is no surprise to find that there are some who believe that history is about to repeat itself.· It was a pleasant surprise to find a paperback edition of the Henkes book included in the package.· To my surprise, I found I liked it.· To her surprise, Alfreda found herself thinking about work at home and planning for the next day.· It was a surprise to find the power to be mostly up high in the rev range.· It came as no surprise to find that the local translator in Sochi had muddled up the names.
· It is certainly no surprise to learn that it is not a cure for all cancers.· He expressed surprise when he learned we were staying there because he thought it was so expensive.· It's no surprise to learn that she numbers among her ancestors the Brothers Grimm.· She expressed no surprise on learning that the second child was also a daughter.· It comes as no surprise to learn that he was trained in Vienna in the Maulbertsch workshop.· Some people have expressed surprise at learning the U. S. Chamber of Commerce is taking such a keen interest in welfare reform.· It is no surprise to learn that an art dealer has closed down.· One also will get surprises by learning a foreign language.
· I looked at her in surprise.· She looked up in surprise as he walked in, and then smiled hesitantly.· She came to a halt and Fenn looked up in surprise.· Frank looked up in surprise when Matron walked in.· At the same time a gentle bell sounded, causing both men to look round in surprise.· Constance thought, looking in surprise at this woman who seemed so radiant with health.· She turns to look at him in surprise.
· Better to be casual and try to show no surprise.· But he shows no sign of surprise.· And a brilliant friend as he showed on a surprise visit to Abingdon.· He showed no surprise at seeing me.· He shows no surprise that Fairfax has come to pay his respects after nearly fifty years.· Neither Mama nor Dad showed the slightest surprise or resentment toward the doctor.· The boys show no surprise, hesitation, confusion - they merely laugh and confer as to how to attack them.· When Meese handed North the memorandum, he at first showed no surprise.
· Calvin Smith, the world-record holder, could always spring a surprise.· Perhaps they will spring a surprise player or two in Atlanta.· And she can spring a surprise.· Theo distracted him from this gloomy conclusion by springing a surprise on him.· And even when you think you know the island intimately, it will keep on springing surprises.· And they can spring some surprises.· Glasser orders his events thematically, while also wanting to tell a story and to spring surprises.
· What happened next took Madeleine completely by surprise.· But it took many by surprise, those who still imagined that women only loved; whereas men lusted.· The transition was so abrupt that it took her by surprise.· How could anyone be taken by surprise by a flight of Hueys?· His deep voice took Romanov by surprise.· I kept my hands folded on my desk. Take the enemy by surprise.· What took her by surprise was her own response to the priest himself.· But each time it was a sudden sortie and took Trondur by surprise so he was not ready to spear them.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► surprise!PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► color me surprised/confused/embarrassed etc► surprised/angry/pleased etc isn’t the word for it
- The study showed - surprise, surprise - that coffee makes you more alert.
- He caught me by surprise and I sounded foolish.
- He rolled towards Lily, taking her by surprise.
- His deep voice took Romanov by surprise.
- In consequence, untold numbers of sailors died when their destinations suddenly loomed out of the sea and took them by surprise.
- Inspector Montgomery's sudden termination of the interview had taken her by surprise initially, but now she understood his strategy.
- The hug takes him by surprise.
- The thought that had been waiting to be revealed, waiting to take him by surprise.
- Welch and I had a rather heated exchange about the appropriateness of his editorial interference, which had caught me by surprise.
- But still Hsu Fu was not satisfied or took us by surprise.
- But the vehemence and anger of this response take her by surprise.
- He rolled towards Lily, taking her by surprise.
- His deep voice took Romanov by surprise.
- Inspector Montgomery's sudden termination of the interview had taken her by surprise initially, but now she understood his strategy.
- Midlife never took me by surprise.
- Such cheery jobless numbers have taken everybody by surprise.
- The thought that had been waiting to be revealed, waiting to take him by surprise.
- Catherine's lively grandma Zeta, 84, right, surprised guests too.
- My pregnancy caught us by surprise, but we're happy about it.
- The public's reaction obviously caught the governor off guard.
- And this might come as a surprise to our brethren in the popular national press - Thirty-eight.
- Buller's Hill House came as a surprise.
- Her answer came as a surprise.
- It comes as a surprise to find him boasting of his prowess as a rioter.
- Nevertheless, he said the sharp drop in the book-to-bill came as a surprise.
- Nor should it come as a surprise that these rules frequently get S corporation owners into trouble.
- So it comes as a surprise to discover that this is not always the case.
- This should not come as a surprise to people who are free.
- I like the element of risk.
- If Weaver had been watching as Liz Spalding had been smuggled into the house, then the element of surprise was lost.
- It contains a major element of truth, even if it is not precisely the truth which its originators intended.
- The element of risk gave it an added excitement.
- There is an element of truth in all of these.
- There were elements of truth in this critique, Jim supposed.
- Web browsers, once limited to displaying text and graphics and downloading files, have created an entirely new element of risk.
- What I do is count on the element of surprise.
- And I said, beats the hell out of me.
- Eddie knows this, and it scares the hell out of her.
- It scared the hell out of me.
- Just to make the move scared the hell out of me.
- Statistics like that scare the hell out of me, and they must scare a lot of CEOs too.
- There is no stopping planned randomness, and that scares the hell out of us.
- Today, he scares the hell out of a lot of Republicans.
- Tornadoes are not fascinating to me; they scare the hell out of me.
- And so that would be the surprise of her life.
- But on Sunday Collins played the game of his life in destroying the fancied Vikings.
- Goalie Garth Snow played the game of his life to save Philly.
- He had arrived before the others, and got the shock of his life when he saw Nails.
- He said he was the security guard, but he had the shock of his life when he saw me.
- She is having the game of her life.
- So when he followed up by pointing us towards the touchline, I got the shock of my life.
- No wrong questions, no mock surprise.
- She threw up her hands in mock horror as the little pomeranian ran yapping among the guests.
- With mock surprise, he settled into the love seat, draping his arms along its top.
- A week later, much to my surprise, I was told my order must be changed.
- And much to everyone's surprise he won it.
- And he was still sober, much to her surprise.
- But he has written a steamy thriller, much to the surprise of his conservative minions.
- Pitsligo died there in 1767, head, much to his surprise, still firmly attached to his unrepentant shoulders.
- So now he is clubbed to death instead, much to the surprise of the audience.
- Those questions were asked in front of a packed gymnasium, much to the Surprise of the state officials who attended.
- At the time it came as something of a shock.
- But perhaps in a way that will be something of a surprise.
- It must have been something of a shock to her system.
- It was something of a shock to him to realize how fond of the little boy he had become.
- Some of their views came as something of a surprise.
- Suddenly she has time to think of herself, and this may be something of a shock.
- That she was shocked came as something of a shock to me, too.
- The feel of his strong fingers enclosing her small palm came as something of a shock to her system.
- And even when you think you know the island intimately, it will keep on springing surprises.
- And she can spring a surprise.
- Calvin Smith, the world-record holder, could always spring a surprise.
- Glasser orders his events thematically, while also wanting to tell a story and to spring surprises.
- Perhaps they will spring a surprise player or two in Atlanta.
- Theo distracted him from this gloomy conclusion by springing a surprise on him.
WORD FAMILYadjectivesurprisedsurprising ≠ unsurprisingnounsurpriseverbsurpriseadverbsurprisingly ≠ unsurprisingly
1event [countable] an unexpected or unusual event: What a surprise to find you here! We had a big surprise when we found out the truth.2feeling [countable, uncountable] the feeling you have when something unexpected or unusual happens: The man had a look of surprise on his face.in/with surprise Bill looked at him in surprise.to somebody’s surprise (=in a way that surprises someone) Much to his surprise, she gave him her phone number.GRAMMARYou say: · To my surprise, the whole family was there. ✗Don’t say: for my surprise3take/catch somebody by surprise to happen unexpectedly: The question took her by surprise.4take somebody/something 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.5gift/party etc [countable usually singular] an unexpected present, trip etc which you give to someone or organize for them, often on a special occasionsurprise for ‘I’ve got a surprise for you,’ she said.6surprise guest/visitor etc someone who arrives somewhere unexpectedly7surprise! spoken used when you are just about to show someone something that you know will surprise them8a)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)British English spoken used when you suddenly appear in front of someone who you know is not expecting to see you9method [uncountable] the use of methods which are intended to cause surprise: An element of surprise is important to any attack.COLLOCATIONSverbsbe a surprise· His decision to marry was a complete surprise.come as a surprise (=be surprising)· The announcement came as a surprise to most people.get/have a surprise· We got a surprise when we got home and found him waiting for us.give somebody a surprise· She wanted to give him a surprise.have a surprise for somebody (=be planning to give someone a surprise)· I think Jenny might have a surprise for you.spring a surprise (on somebody) (=give someone a surprise)· The chairman sprang a surprise this week by announcing his intention to quit.adjectivesa big/great surprise· The results were a big surprise.a complete/total surprise· The news came as a complete surprise.a nice/pleasant/lovely surprise· It’s a lovely surprise to see you.an unpleasant/nasty surprise· We don’t want any unpleasant surprises.phrasescome as no surprise (=not be surprising)· It came as no surprise when Lester got the job.be in for a surprise (=be going to have a surprise)· Compare our prices. You’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.there’s a surprise in store (for somebody) (=something unexpected is going to happen)· There were plenty more surprises in store for him.surprise + NOUNa surprise visit· Environmental health inspectors made a surprise visit to the restaurant.a surprise party· His friends had planned a surprise party for him.a surprise announcement· In a surprise announcement the company said they were withdrawing their planning application.a surprise victory· She came to power in 1977, after a surprise victory in the general election.a surprise attack· Instead they launched a successful surprise attack on the castle.a surprise move (=an unexpected action)· In a surprise move, the government lifted the ban on arms exports to the country.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘a bad surprise’. Say an unpleasant surprise or a nasty surprise.surprise1 nounsurprise2 verb
surprisesurprise2 ●●● S3 W2 verb [transitive] VERB TABLE
surprise
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | surprise |
| he, she, it | surprises | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | surprised |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have surprised |
| he, she, it | has surprised | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had surprised |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will surprise |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have surprised |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Diana's reaction surprised him - he hadn't realized that she was so upset.
- I have to say, it surprises me that they haven't gone bankrupt before now.
- It was the tone of his voice that surprised me.
- Police surprised Dyer in the parking lot of the building where he worked.
- The exam was actually quite easy, which surprised me.
- The report's conclusions have surprised many analysts.
- What surprised me most was how cheap everything was compared to at home.
- Why don't you just have a go at skiing? You might surprise yourself.
- I felt a sharp stab of disappointment and was surprised and angry at myself.
- The extent of her stepmother's generosity surprised her.
- The urgency of desire surprised him.
THESAURUS
to make someone feel surprised, especially because they did not expect something: · Her reaction surprised me – I didn’t realize how strongly she felt.· What surprised me was how cheap everything was compared to at home.
to greatly surprise someone, for example because something is very good, unusual, or hard to believe: · He amazed everyone with his skill.· It amazes me that no one has thought of the idea before.
to greatly surprise someone: · Myra astonished her doctors by recovering so quickly.
to greatly surprise or shock someone. Astound sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonish: · What astounded him was their inefficiency.
to happen at an unexpected time, so that people are surprised or unprepared: · Security men were taken by surprise as the man ran onto the stage.· His resignation took us by surprise.
to make someone feel surprised or slightly frightened by doing something they did not expect: · The wind made the door shut with a crash, which startled her.· Sudden movements may startle the horse.
Longman Language Activatorto make someone surprised · Diana's reaction surprised him - he hadn't realized that she was so upset.· The exam was actually quite easy, which surprised me.what surprises somebody is · What surprised me most was how cheap everything was compared to at home.it surprises somebody that · I have to say, it surprises me that they haven't gone bankrupt before now.surprise yourself (=do something that you thought you could not do, so that you are surprised) · Why don't you just have a go at skiing? You might surprise yourself.
if something is a surprise , or if it comes as a surprise , it surprises you: · "Bob and Linda are getting divorced.'' "That's a surprise -- they seemed like the perfect couple.''· The firing of the team's star pitcher came as a surprise to fans and sports writers alike.a complete surprise (=a big surprise): · My brother's sudden visit home was a complete surprise.be a surprise/come as a surprise to somebody: · The announcement of his resignation was a complete surprise to everyone in the office.it comes as a surprise to see/learn/find etc: · It comes as a surprise to learn what a high rate of illiteracy there is in this country.
to make someone feel extremely surprised, especially because something is very hard to believe: · Dave amazed his friends by leaving a well-paid job to travel around the world.it amazes somebody that: · It amazes me that no-one has thought of the idea sooner.
to make someone feel extremely surprised: · My father's reaction astounded me. How could he be so calm!· Tammy astonished her doctors by learning to walk again within weeks of the accident.· They astounded audiences with their fanciful costumes and their fascinating tales.what astonishes/astounds somebody is: · What astonishes me is how incredibly inefficient so many companies seem to be.
also catch somebody by surprise American if something takes you by surprise , it happens at a time when you are not expecting it: · The President's resignation took everyone by surprise.· The vehemence of her response took me by surprise.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY 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 wouldn’t surprise me if he married Jo.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues. Their engagement came as a complete surprise to me. a story with a happy ending He was genuinely concerned for the children. She was surprised to learn that he was a lot older than she had thought. It gave me a nasty shock. What a nice surprise! Kate! What a pleasant surprise! Clare yelled in pain as she fell. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored. The water was hotter than she had expected, and she gave an involuntary yelp.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
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 wouldn’t surprise me if he married Jo.· The Senator made the surprise announcement that he will not be seeking re-election.
· We launched a surprise attack on their camp just before dawn.
The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues. Their engagement came as a complete surprise to me. a story with a happy ending· ‘I don’t believe he could hurt anyone,’ she said, expressing her surprise.
· He didn’t need to speak – his shocked expression said it all.
(=one showing that you are surprised)· He looked at me with an expression of surprise.
He was genuinely concerned for the children. She was surprised to learn that he was a lot older than she had thought. (=one that expresses a particular feeling) There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd.
There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd. It gave me a nasty shock. formal (=react to the news in a particular way)· Fans greeted the news of the victory with a loud cheer.
What a nice surprise!· Amy has planned a surprise party for his birthday.
Kate! What a pleasant surprise!· He smiled at Donna’s expression of shocked surprise.
(=one that the person being visited does not know is going to happen)· Naomi paid a surprise visit to an old school friend.
Clare yelled in pain as she fell. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored. The water was hotter than she had expected, and she gave an involuntary yelp.· It is hardly surprising that collections of such photographs hold great personal importance.· That San Francisco has become the battleground for this fight is hardly surprising.· That is hardly surprising: the Pentagon has told both firms that it would tolerate closer ties but no full merger.· This is hardly surprising since half of them work most evenings and a third work most weekends.· And it is hardly surprising that she did not think of tongue speaking as a possible exception.· This is hardly surprising: the two most carcinogenic compounds ever detected are produced by diesel engines.· It is hardly surprising that it is beginning to go missing.
· But I was pleasantly surprised by the tips.· The gregarious, silver-haired Dodd has himself been pleasantly surprised by his year-and-a-bit as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.· Boehlert, who was ignored when he told them the same thing last year, was pleasantly surprised by the quick action.· We put eight to a blind taste test and were pleasantly surprised.
NOUN· Tests can often surprise people by uncovering unrealised gifts or simply confirming perceived talents.· Which is why it always surprises me when people turn out to be such bad listeners.· You be surprised what people want in the casket with them.· Little evidence exists to indicate that tests help teachers; however this sad fact may not surprise many people.· It lacked co-ordination and Morrissey's ability to surprise people with words, seemed strangely lacking.· The intensity and urgency of Galway's hurling in the semi-final win over Tipperary surprised most people.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► color me surprised/confused/embarrassed etc► surprised/angry/pleased etc isn’t the word for it
- My pregnancy caught us by surprise, but we're happy about it.
- The public's reaction obviously caught the governor off guard.
- And this might come as a surprise to our brethren in the popular national press - Thirty-eight.
- Buller's Hill House came as a surprise.
- Her answer came as a surprise.
- It comes as a surprise to find him boasting of his prowess as a rioter.
- Nevertheless, he said the sharp drop in the book-to-bill came as a surprise.
- Nor should it come as a surprise that these rules frequently get S corporation owners into trouble.
- So it comes as a surprise to discover that this is not always the case.
- This should not come as a surprise to people who are free.
- I like the element of risk.
- If Weaver had been watching as Liz Spalding had been smuggled into the house, then the element of surprise was lost.
- It contains a major element of truth, even if it is not precisely the truth which its originators intended.
- The element of risk gave it an added excitement.
- There is an element of truth in all of these.
- There were elements of truth in this critique, Jim supposed.
- Web browsers, once limited to displaying text and graphics and downloading files, have created an entirely new element of risk.
- What I do is count on the element of surprise.
- And I said, beats the hell out of me.
- Eddie knows this, and it scares the hell out of her.
- It scared the hell out of me.
- Just to make the move scared the hell out of me.
- Statistics like that scare the hell out of me, and they must scare a lot of CEOs too.
- There is no stopping planned randomness, and that scares the hell out of us.
- Today, he scares the hell out of a lot of Republicans.
- Tornadoes are not fascinating to me; they scare the hell out of me.
- And so that would be the surprise of her life.
- But on Sunday Collins played the game of his life in destroying the fancied Vikings.
- Goalie Garth Snow played the game of his life to save Philly.
- He had arrived before the others, and got the shock of his life when he saw Nails.
- He said he was the security guard, but he had the shock of his life when he saw me.
- She is having the game of her life.
- So when he followed up by pointing us towards the touchline, I got the shock of my life.
- No wrong questions, no mock surprise.
- She threw up her hands in mock horror as the little pomeranian ran yapping among the guests.
- With mock surprise, he settled into the love seat, draping his arms along its top.
- A week later, much to my surprise, I was told my order must be changed.
- And much to everyone's surprise he won it.
- And he was still sober, much to her surprise.
- But he has written a steamy thriller, much to the surprise of his conservative minions.
- Pitsligo died there in 1767, head, much to his surprise, still firmly attached to his unrepentant shoulders.
- So now he is clubbed to death instead, much to the surprise of the audience.
- Those questions were asked in front of a packed gymnasium, much to the Surprise of the state officials who attended.
- At the time it came as something of a shock.
- But perhaps in a way that will be something of a surprise.
- It must have been something of a shock to her system.
- It was something of a shock to him to realize how fond of the little boy he had become.
- Some of their views came as something of a surprise.
- Suddenly she has time to think of herself, and this may be something of a shock.
- That she was shocked came as something of a shock to me, too.
- The feel of his strong fingers enclosing her small palm came as something of a shock to her system.
- And even when you think you know the island intimately, it will keep on springing surprises.
- And she can spring a surprise.
- Calvin Smith, the world-record holder, could always spring a surprise.
- Glasser orders his events thematically, while also wanting to tell a story and to spring surprises.
- Perhaps they will spring a surprise player or two in Atlanta.
- Theo distracted him from this gloomy conclusion by springing a surprise on him.
WORD FAMILYadjectivesurprisedsurprising ≠ unsurprisingnounsurpriseverbsurpriseadverbsurprisingly ≠ unsurprisingly
1to make someone feel surprised: His strange question surprised her.it surprises somebody 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 somebody that/how/what Looking back, does it surprise you that she left? It wouldn’t surprise me if he married Jo.2to 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.THESAURUSsurprise to make someone feel surprised, especially because they did not expect something: · Her reaction surprised me – I didn’t realize how strongly she felt.· What surprised me was how cheap everything was compared to at home.amaze to greatly surprise someone, for example because something is very good, unusual, or hard to believe: · He amazed everyone with his skill.· It amazes me that no one has thought of the idea before.astonish to greatly surprise someone: · Myra astonished her doctors by recovering so quickly.astound to greatly surprise or shock someone. Astound sounds a little more formal and a little stronger than astonish: · What astounded him was their inefficiency.take somebody by surprise to happen at an unexpected time, so that people are surprised or unprepared: · Security men were taken by surprise as the man ran onto the stage.· His resignation took us by surprise.startle to make someone feel surprised or slightly frightened by doing something they did not expect: · The wind made the door shut with a crash, which startled her.· Sudden movements may startle the horse.