Synonyms

double take

American

noun

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.

double take British

noun

(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

Etymology

Origin of double take

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

double take

But in March, Kevin Vargas did a double take when he saw Nvidia’s announcement of the latest version of the technology.

From MarketWatch ● May 23, 2026

I did a kind of audio double take.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026

Hu observed the insects pausing briefly, almost as if doing a "double take," before gathering nearby.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 22, 2026

Waitstaff do a double take at having to get change.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 21, 2025

Marlena does a double take and stands, her jaw dropped in mock outrage.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023