surprise

v

1. astonish, amaze, astound, stun, Inf. flabbergast, Inf. snow, Sl. blow away, Sl. blow one's mind; overwhelm, overpower, Inf. bowl over, Inf. floor, Inf. knock or throw one for a loop, Inf. set back on one's heels; hit like a ton of bricks, Inf. hit between the eyes.

2. take by surprise, take unawares, catch off-guard, catch napping; catch red-handed, catch in the act, catch in flagrante delicto, Sl. catch with one's pants down, Sl. catch dead to rights.

3. ambush, U.S. bushwhack, Inf. jump; pounce upon, fall upon, descend upon, swoop down upon; come out of nowhere, drop from the clouds, come like a bolt from the blue; blitz.

4. pop, spring [s.t.] on [s.o.].

n

5. bolt from the blue, bombshell, shocker, blow; eyeopener, revelation; ace in the hole, card or ace up one's sleeve.

6. amazement, astonishment, astoundment, marvel-ment, wonder, wonderment, breathless wonder, awe.

7. marvel, phenomenon, prodigy, miracle, rarity, portent, sensation, Sl. stunner.

8. surprise attack, Inf. sneak attack, Pearl Harbor