"Taken aback" is an idiom meaning to be startled, confused, stunned, suddenly surprised, or shocked by something unexpected, often leaving a person momentarily speechless or unprepared, not knowing how to respond or behave for a short time.
The phrase originates from 18th-century sailing, describing the moment wind suddenly hits a ship's sails from the front, forcing them back against the mast and stopping the vessel's progress.
It is generally used in the passive voice (e.g., "She was taken aback") rather than active ("It took her aback"), and often implies a negative or discomfited reaction, such as feeling offended or taken off guard.
Synonyms: flabbergasted, taken off guard, discombobulated.
- From online with editing
-------------------------------------
It was the time when my son was in elementary school. One day he came home and said to me suddenly: "Mom, I'm glad you ain't black (in skin colour)".
I was taken aback and wondered why and what made him say such words?
But before I could say anything, he replied to himself: "Oh, if you are black, I will be black too. So it doesn't matter."
I nodded in agreement, and thought that he might have seen some race related issues in school.
One week later, he brought home a classmate named Will to play together.
Will was a black boy about one year older, lived not far from our home. Will was very polite and with very good manners. He became my son's best friend then ... ...
Wish you all a good Thursday!
