Tag: take aback

Take aback
WotD: Take aback The world, from Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping to Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, has been taken aback. The phrase take someone aback means to surprise or shock someone, usually when they don’t see it coming. If someone is taken aback, it’s because something sudden, unusual or unexpected…

Stumped
Word of the Day: Stumped Have you ever been stumped by something strange or wonderful? Well, you’re not alone. Stumped is a common word used in many different contexts, and it can be tricky to pinpoint its precise meaning. But hey, that’s English in general, right? At its core, stumped means to be at a…



