double take
a rapid or surprised second look, either literal or figurative, at a person or situation whose significance had not been completely grasped at first: His friends did a double take when they saw how much weight he had lost.
Origin of double take
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use double take in a sentence
The “Aduba double-take,” a phenomenon that fans of the show often fall victim to, is truly a testament to her feral performance.
‘Orange Is the New Black’ Star Uzo Aduba on Her Journey From Track Phenom to Crazy Eyes | Marlow Stern | June 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI must have done a double-take, like the Navy pilot who sees a UFO outside his cockpit.
But when he grudgingly appeared with bottle in hand, he did a double take—"Ooh!"
I did a double take when I realized the biggest credit on his resume to date was a Disney comedy TV series called Even Stevens.
Uncomfortably Mature: Shia LaBeouf’s Different, More Complicated, Life | Rick Schwartz | February 23, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTYou'll notice yourself doing a double-take when you read this because it sounds like an elaborate prank from the Onion.
History's Vilest #SlatePitch Asks: Why Do We Bitterly Cling to Free Speech? | Justin Green | September 26, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Kato responded to this with a gruesome double-take that gave his face the fleeting appearance of an ancient samurai war mask.
The Mercenaries | Henry Beam PiperMy heart did a double-take; one slip and he'd be off into the gorge, and the frost stung, melting under his bare fingers.
A Matter of Proportion | Anne WalkerBrad gave a quick glance down into the pit and then did a double take.
Dan Carter and the Haunted Castle | Mildred A. WirtThe whistle came from his lips this time, as he did a double-take at the figure which confronted him.
Castle of Terror | E.J. ListonHe thought of Bette, the inveterate explainer and double-take expert.
Pagan Passions | Gordon Randall Garrett
British Dictionary definitions for double take
(esp in comedy) a delayed reaction by a person to a remark, situation, etc
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse