be taken aback 大吃一惊
The Manager was taken aback at the news that some company had already launched the product into the market. (当经理得知某公司已经把该产品投放市场时,他不禁大吃一惊。) Dialogue: Mary: Do you know what Jack has done to John’s daughter? Sandy: Yeah. But I was completely taken aback at the news that he had killed Jenny. Mary: That has taken many people by surprise. Nobody could believe that Jack would kill Jenny with whom he had been getting on like a house on fire.(交往得火热) Sandy: No! And I can’t imagine how terrible John would feel. Mary: He can’t be more saddened. Jenny was the apple of his eye,(他的掌上明珠) you know. Sandy: Sure. The news is too much to bear. And Jenny’s mum must have been knocked into the middle of next week (被打得不省人事)by the news. Mary: Well, better talk about something else. I can’t put up with this sort of violence.