double-take


Also found in: Idioms, Wikipedia.

doub·le-take

or double take (dŭb′əl-tēm′)
n.
A delayed reaction to an unusual remark or circumstance after first either failing to notice anything unusual or reacting inappropriately, often performed as a comic device: "'Something's fishy,' Vidhu said again, with such a showboating shake of his head that I did a double take as I realized: he had some kind of inside scoop" (Katherine Russell Rich).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
References in periodicals archive ?
SOUTHBORO - A company owned by private equity firm Thoma Bravo LLC has agreed to acquire Double-Take Software Inc.
Double-Take Software is bought for 242ドル million; Vision Solutions acquires Southboro data protection company
Recovery solutions provider Double-Take Software Inc (Nasdaq:DBTK) announced on Monday that on 17 May 2010 it entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Vision Solutions Inc, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo LLC.
Double-Take announces agreement to be acquired by Vision Solutions
Disaster recovery and business continuity solutions provider Double-Take Software (Nasdaq:DBTK) has announced it has leveraged Amazon Web Services to create a real-time workload recovery platform Double-Take Cloud.
Double-Take uses Amazon Web Services to create real-time workload recovery platform
WE HERE at Angel Eyes had to do a double-take when we traipsed along to St James's Park this week for the Meat Loaf charity penalty shoot-out.
He's a real dead ringer for Big Sam; ANGEL EYES
Another double-take: Lindsay defending what The Daily News called his "come- and-get-it" welfare programs before the Senate Finance Committee in 1969.
THE UNGOVERNABLE CITY: John Lindsay and His Struggle To Save New York
Double-Take licenses its software to customers directly, and to distributors and original equipment manufacturers.
Take 2 profitable for Double-Take
TELECOMWORLDWIRE-1 August 2008-Worcestershire NHS Trust chooses Double-Take Software(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com
Worcestershire NHS Trust chooses Double-Take Software
While the 8110 is unlikely to replace your primary phone, it could be a great choice as an inexpensive second option - although expect some double-takes if you slide it out in public!
Gadget of the week; Tech
Filming there took place in October last year and left locals and visitors doing double-takes as the film crews swung into action.
Model and Meg on the big screen
Customers on Eurostar were doing double-takes when they found themselves marooned with rap megastar Kanye West on Thursday night.
KANYE come and get me?! MEGASTAR STUCK ON SWELTERING TRAIN FOR FOUR HOURS AFTER DELAY
At first he tried to ignore her, but now he's doing double-takes at her.
DEAR LINDA...: My little sister is after my boyfriend; echo2 new you
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