Dictionary

double take en · NOUN

Etymology

From take (“a visible (facial) response to something”) as used in acting, especially in comedy.

Meanings

1. An abrupt movement, used, for example, as a comical reaction to a surprising sight, in which someone casually sees something, briefly stops looking at it, realizes what it is, and snaps attention back to it with an expression of surprise or disbelief.
   • Smith passes the car and does a double take as he realizes it is on fire.
   • I swear I did a double take when I spotted that $100 bill lying in the gutter!
   • Once a neighbor complained that a Gilbreth had called the neighbor's boy a son of an unprintable word.“What are the facts of the matter?” Dad asked blandly. And then walked away while the neighbor registered a double take. 1949, Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr.; Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen:

Forms

Deriveds

double taker

Translations (10)

de to do a double take) zweimal hinsehen müssen (reaction to surprising sight) · it scoppio ritardato (reaction to surprising sight) · ru повто́рный взгляд (reaction to surprising sight) · eo reatento (reaction to surprising sight) · eo subita reatento (reaction to surprising sight) · ja 二度見 (reaction to surprising sight) · ru заме́дленная реа́кция (reaction to surprising sight) · ko 두번보고 (reaction to surprising sight) · ru внима́тельный осмо́тр (reaction to surprising sight) · bg закъсняла реакция (reaction to surprising sight)