Take somebody/something by surprise Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Impact This phrase often conveys a strong emotional reaction to an unexpected event. Her emotional speech took the audience by surprise. Pro Tip 2/3Unpredictable Events Use this phrase when something happens suddenly, without warning and was hard to predict. The storm took the hikers by surprise. Pro Tip 3/3Neutral Contexts While often used for negative events, it can also be neutral or positive. The pop quiz took the students by surprise.