
Take somebody/something by surprise
Emotional Impact
This phrase often conveys a strong emotional reaction to an unexpected event.
Her emotional speech took the audience by surprise.
Unpredictable Events
Use this phrase when something happens suddenly, without warning and was hard to predict.
The storm took the hikers by surprise.
Neutral Contexts
While often used for negative events, it can also be neutral or positive.
The pop quiz took the students by surprise.