double take

noun

dou·ble take ˈdə-bəl-ˌtāk

: a delayed reaction to a surprising or significant situation after an initial failure to notice anything unusual

—usually used in the phrase do a double take

Examples of double take in a Sentence

His parents did a double take when he came home with a tattoo.

Recent Examples on the Web

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As black town cars snaked down Wall Street from 5.30 p.m., onlookers leaving the office craned their necks and did a double take inside the temporary tent popped up outside Cipriani. —

Freya Drohan, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2024 There were a couple of men next to me staring and doing double takes. —

Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024 The next name down the list, however, might draw a double take. —

Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024 Any railway passenger glancing out of the window on the east-coast line on final approach into London King’s Cross Station could be forgiven for doing a double take. —

Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 19 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for double take