aback
- 英式英标[ə\'bæk]
- 美式音标[ə\'bæk]
中文词源
来自古英语短语 on back，其字面意思是“向后”，来自古代帆船时代的航海用语，用于表示帆船在前行的过程中被突然改变的风向，也就是突然向后吹的逆风阻挡而不能继续前行，由于这种逆风的突然性，往往使人大吃一惊，所以后来该词又延伸出引申义，表示“猝不及防地，突然地，震惊”。aback 现在主要存在于短语 take aback（使吃惊，使惊呆），在其他地方很少用到。
英文词源
- aback (adv.)
- c. 1200, from Old English on bæc "at or on the back;" see back (n.). Now surviving mainly in taken aback, originally a nautical expression in reference to a vessel's square sails when a sudden change of wind flattens them back against the masts and stops the forward motion of the ship (1754). The figurative sense is first recorded 1840.
实用例句
- 1. Rather taken aback by such forwardness, I slammed down the phone.
- 如此无礼的言语让我火冒三丈，我砰的一下把电话挂了。
来自柯林斯例句
- 2. Cross was a little taken aback by her abrupt manner.
- 她鲁莽的态度让克罗斯感到有点吃惊。
来自柯林斯例句
- 3. Roland was taken aback by our strength of feeling.
- 我们反应如此强烈，令罗兰大吃一惊。
来自柯林斯例句
- 4. Derek was taken aback when a man answered the phone.
- 德里克吓了一跳，居然是一个男的接的电话。
来自柯林斯例句
- 5. The little girl screamed and it took us aback.
- 小女孩的尖叫声吓了我们一跳.
来自《简明英汉词典》