element of surprise
22
3.8
- noun
- Informal
:
factor sorpresa
- The element of surprise is a formidable advantage in combat.
But I think part of it is I, I used to like the element of surprise when people didn't know me.
- But I think part of it is I, I used to like the element of surprise when people didn't know me.
- And that's element of surprise and violence of action.
- I always say that you it's wise to use the element of surprise, especially when it comes to narcissist.
- From a psychological standpoint, I always tell people that it's the element of surprise that they say, I don't know how I got mugged.
Examples
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The element of surprise had been a crucial part of invasion planning.
Academic text (1994) -
One of the hallmarks of a good story is the element of surprise.
Blog text (24) -
That would give you the element of surprise.
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I think we lost the element of surprise.
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So much for the element of surprise.
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No, we need the element of surprise!
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We have the element of surprise.
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I had the element of surprise on my side.
Fiction book (1994) -
I suspect it's the element of surprise that does it.
Fiction book (1995) -
The element of surprise can change the outcome of a carefully planned operation.
Synonyms
738
1.0
An event that happens suddenly and is not expected
232
4.1
A sudden change in a story or situation that surprises people
2
4.2
A surprising event in a story that changes the expected outcome
1
5.8
A feeling of surprise when something happens that you did not know about
A sudden dramatic twist in a play or story that surprises the audience
Antonyms
How Surprising
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from 'element' (a component) + 'of' (linking) + 'surprise' (unexpected event), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it denotes a component that causes or produces surprise. This noun-of-noun compositional pattern is common across languages, making the phrase immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.
Etymology
Element of surprise comes from the image of a small, hidden element that suddenly creates a big surprise, like a magician hiding a card to amaze the audience. So it means 'an unexpected feature' that catches people off guard.