Читаем Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

3 VERB If something surprises you, it gives you a feeling of surprise. □ [V n] We'll solve the case ourselves and surprise everyone. □ [V n that] It surprised me that someone of her experience should make those mistakes. □ [V n if] It wouldn't surprise me if there was such chaos after this election that another had to be held. □ [V pron-refl] They were served lamb and she surprised herself by eating greedily.

4 VERB If you surprise someone, you give them, tell them, or do something pleasant that they are not expecting. □ [V n + with ] Surprise a new neighbour with one of your favourite home-made dishes. [Also V n]

5 N‑COUNT If you describe someone or something as a surprise , you mean that they are very good or pleasant although you were not expecting this. □  She was one of the surprises of the World Championships three months ago.

6 VERB If you surprise someone, you attack, capture, or find them when they are not expecting it. □ [V n] Marlborough surprised the French and Bavarian armies near the village of Blenheim.

7 → see also surprised , surprising

8 PHRASE If something takes you by surprise , it happens when you are not expecting it or when you are not prepared for it. □  His question took his two companions by surprise. COLLOCATIONS surprise NOUN

1

adjective + surprise : nasty, unpleasant, unwelcome; pleasant, wonderful; complete

verb + surprise : deliver, pull, spring

2

verb + surprise : express, feign, register

sur|prised ◆◇◇ /sə ^r pra I zd/

1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf, ADJ that/how] If you are surprised at something, you have a feeling of surprise, because it is unexpected or unusual. □ [+ at/by ] This lady was genuinely surprised at what happened to her pet. □  Chang seemed surprised to find the big living-room empty.

2 → see also surprise SYNONYMS surprised ADJ

amazed:I was amazed to learn she was still writing her stories.

astonished:They were astonished to find the driver was a six-year-old boy.

startled:Martha gave her a startled look.

sur|pris|ing ◆◇◇ /sə ^r pra I z I ŋ/

1 ADJ Something that is surprising is unexpected or unusual and makes you feel surprised. □  It is not surprising that children learn to read at different rates. □  A surprising number of customers order the same sandwich every day. ●  sur|pris|ing|ly ADV [ADV adj/adv] □  They did surprisingly well in the general election last year.

2 → see also surprise SYNONYMS surprising ADJ

amazing:It's amazing what we can remember with a little prompting.

astonishing:…an astonishing display of physical strength.

incredible:It seemed incredible that people would play football during a war.

sur|re|al /səriː əl/ ADJ If you describe something as surreal , you mean that the elements in it are combined in a strange way that you would not normally expect, like in a dream. □  'Performance' is undoubtedly one of the most surreal movies ever made.

sur|re|al|ism /səriː əl I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Surrealism is a style in art and literature in which ideas, images, and objects are combined in a strange way, like in a dream.

sur|re|al|ist /səriː əl I st/ (surrealists )

1 ADJ Surrealist means related to or in the style of surrealism. □  Dali's shoe hat was undoubtedly the most surrealist idea he ever worked on with Schiaparelli.

2 N‑COUNT A surrealist is an artist or writer whose work is based on the ideas of surrealism.