Taken aback

[irmamar]

Would it be correct if I said that "taken aback" means "taken by surprise"?

Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Would it be correct if I said that "taken aback" means "taken by surprise"?

Thanks.

Yes

[irmamar]

Thank you!

[poli]

Taken aback is a surprise in a negative way. It's a surpise and insult at the same time.

[irmamar]

An insult? Is it something related to alcohol?

[xchic]

Originally Posted by irmamar

An insult? Is it something related to alcohol?

No

Perhaps not so much an insult as taken by surprise (as said), but in a bad way.

Offended might be a better way of saying it.

[irmamar]

Sorry, I mixed two posts.

I must look for my head, I don't remember where I left it.

Thanks.

[poli]

Ejemplo: I was quite taken aback by the fact they they hired someone new to take the place of the manager who will be retiring next week. I was sure that I was in line for the job.

PD you can use surprised instead instead of taken aback in this sentence, but in a postive surprise , as in the following
sentence you may not use taken aback.
I was so surprised when I won the lottery!

[Jessica]

I don't get how it's in a negative form.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Jessica

I don't get how it's in a negative form.

Not a negative form: a negative reaction.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Jessica

I don't get how it's in a negative form.

As in "unpleasantly surprised"