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
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
Blue yard signs popping up from Pennsylvania to Nevada prompt double takes, too.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
If those deliveries aren’t necessarily the sort of thing that’ll lead to a whole lot of double takes, bear in mind that this largely uncelebrated primetime cartoon scarcely managed to scare up 667,000 impressions during its previous first-run showing on Oct. 6.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for double take 
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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
Blue yard signs popping up from Pennsylvania to Nevada prompt double takes, too.
—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
If those deliveries aren’t necessarily the sort of thing that’ll lead to a whole lot of double takes, bear in mind that this largely uncelebrated primetime cartoon scarcely managed to scare up 667,000 impressions during its previous first-run showing on Oct. 6.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for double take
Articles Related to double take
Dictionary Entries Near double take
Cite this Entry
“Double take.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20take. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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double take
noun
dou·ble take
ˈdəb-əl-ˌtāk
: a delayed reaction to a surprising or unusual situation after first failing to notice anything unusual
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