take by surprise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Buccaneers next landed 100 men, hoping to take by surprise the city of La Serena.

From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume II (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Thornbury, Walter

It could now be seen that those who handled the oars were trying to make less noise, as though desirous of not arousing the sleepers they expected to take by surprise.

From Motor Boat Boys Mississippi Cruise or, The Dash for Dixie by Arundel, Louis

The two were superbly mounted, and well calculated, by their style and bearing, to take by surprise the leader of a rabble host marching through a country where all was new to his eyes.

From The Great Mogul by Tracy, Louis

He would have opened the door suddenly in that case, hoping to take by surprise whosoever of the clan were guarding Linda.

From The Strength of the Pines by Marshall, Edison

Finally the rebels retreated, and Michelson discovered that his opponents meant to take by surprise the Fort of Ufa.

From Stories by Foreign Authors: Polish, Greek, Belgian, Hungarian by Sienkiewicz, Henryk