double take

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR double take ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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Words related to double take

afterthought, arriere-pensee

Words nearby double take

double star, double steal, double stop, double sugar, double tackle, double take, double take, do a, double talk, double tap, double tape, double tide

Origin of double take

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

British Dictionary definitions for double take

double take

noun

(esp in comedy) a delayed reaction by a person to a remark, situation, etc

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