take aback

People paying their respects at the memorial were taken aback, with one commenting that, even in Utah, “there are some psychopaths.”

She was taken aback by his forgetfulness, and more so by his hostility.

Even he’s taken aback by how frictionless and joyful this reunion has been.

Number eight Alex Matthews admitted she was taken aback to be handed the captaincy.

When I first arrived at Reset, I was taken aback by the starkness of the space, but it didn’t take long for the hotel’s minimalism and clean lines to grow on me.