be taken aback

Matthias Meitzler, a sociologist from Tuebingen University, said that while some may be taken aback or even scared by the technology — “as if the voice from the afterlife is sounding again” — others will perceive it as an addition to traditional ways of remembering dead loved ones, such as visiting the grave, holding inner monologues with the deceased, or looking at pictures and old letters.

With so many popular depictions of work emerging in the wake of "Office Space," younger grunts shouldn't be taken aback by their late 40- and 50-something colleagues' stubborn work ethic despite their low expectations of getting rewarded for it given all they've survived.

Granddaughter Lesley Hiscott, who was named Leslie, said her grandfather would be taken aback.

Geirean and Landen didn’t have time to be taken aback.

It would be easy to be taken aback.