prise Idiom

catch me by surprise

surprise me, not warn me The snowstorm in May caught us by surprise. We didn't expect it.

take by surprise

1．fill with surprise or amazement；astonish 使吃惊；使惊奇
Your good examination results have taken all the teachers by surprise．你考试的好成绩使得所有老师都感到吃惊。
When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government，it took us all by surprise．我们的老师在年中辞职去政府部门供职时，我们都感到吃惊。
2．appear in front of sb．suddenly；come before sb．is ready 出其不意地出现；在（某人）未准备妥当之前来到
The passenger took the thief by surprise．He caught the latter's hand as it sneaked into his pocket．那位旅客在扒手刚把手伸进他的口袋里的时候，突然抓住了他。
Our guests came half an hour early，taking my mother by surprise．我们的客人提前半小时来了，弄得我妈妈措手不及。

free enterprise|enterprise|free

n. phr. A system in which private business is controlled by as few government rules as possible. The United States is proud of its free enterprise.

take by surprise|surprise|take

v. phr. 1. To appear in front of someone suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window. When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took her by surprise. 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in. When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the government, it took us all by surprise.

by surprise

by surprise
see take by surprise.

enterprise

enterprise
see free enterprise.

free enterprise

free enterprise
Also, private enterprise. An undertaking on one's own behalf, especially a shady or illegal one. For example, The city treasurer didn't bother with competitive bids; the spirit of free enterprise just led him to his brother-in-law, or The sergeant indulged in a little private enterprise, selling cigarettes on the black market. This sarcastic application of a term that has meant, since about 1885, the freedom of private businesses to operate competitively for profit with a minimum of government control, dates from the mid-1900s.

surprise

surprise
see take by surprise.