to be so surprised at something that you have to take another look (American meaning)
a delayed reaction to something (British meaning)
It can be accompanied by a sudden movement of the head in order to take another look
I did a double take when I saw how much weight my best friend had lost.
When the new car entered the parking lot everyone did a double take.
Keanu Reeves would typically be easy to pick out in a crowd, but his new appearance can make just about anyone do a double take. Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli, Houston Chronicle, “Keanu Reeves spotted looking like Forrest Gump at an event in Italy.”
“I just looked up and that’s when I spotted the flickering in the water.” “It looked as though the light was bouncing off something but there were no boats or people and it was something long – very long.” “I had to do a double take because there was just nothing to explain it.”
There is no origin for this idiom
Was this page helpful?
definition
Common phrase that has a specific meaning.