element of surprise: meaning & examples
Open in appLanguage: English
Meanings:
- Literal: a factor or component that produces surprise or astonishment.
Examples
BetaThe sudden thunderstorm was an element of surprise that caught all the hikers off guard.
The unexpected thunderstorm was a factor that astonished the hikers.
Her unexpected arrival added an element of surprise to the birthday party.
Her coming without warning was a component that amazed the guests at the party.
The magician’s trick included an element of surprise that thrilled the audience.
The magician’s act contained a factor producing astonishment and excitement.
In the recipe, adding chili powder introduces an element of surprise to the mild dish.
Including chili powder adds a surprising flavor component to the otherwise mild food.
- Figurative: a strategic advantage gained when an opponent is unprepared or caught off guard, often exploited to achieve success.
Examples
BetaThe team used the element of surprise to launch a successful ambush on their opponents.
The team gained a strategic advantage by catching their opponents unprepared.
By attacking at dawn, the soldiers exploited the element of surprise effectively.
The soldiers used the unpreparedness of the enemy at dawn as a strategic advantage.
The negotiator’s sudden change in demands introduced an element of surprise that shifted the talks.
The unexpected alteration by the negotiator gave them a strategic edge in negotiations.
Examples:
- EN: Always prefer to utilize element of surprise... never to be victim.ES: Siempre prefiero usar el elemento sorpresa, nunca ser víctima de ella.
- EN: Lovers use element of surprise.ES: Los amantes usan el factor sorpresa.
- EN: No element of surprise.ES: Se acabó la sorpresa.
- EN: Murderers don't work that way, they depend on the element of surprise.ES: Los asesinos no se comportan así. Cuentan con el elemento sorpresa.
- EN: It provides what you might call an 'element of surprise'.ES: Proporciona lo que se llama el elemento sorpresa.
- EN: Whenever he came home from a business trip even if he'd been away only for a day, He brought with him an element of surprise and suspense.ES: Siempre que regresaba de un viaje de negocios... aunque sólo fuera un viaje de un día... traía con él la sorpresa y el suspenso.
- EN: I understand the Mexicans are excellent fighters, but in my opinion it was the element of surprise that turned the trick.ES: Entiendo que los mexicanos son excelentes luchadores, pero en mi la opinión era el elemento sorpresa lo que funcionó.
- EN: I'd have the element of surprise on my side.ES: Contaría con el factor sorpresa.
- EN: Finally, there is the element of surprise.ES: Por último, está el factor sorpresa.
- EN: I trust you've never heard of the element of surprise.ES: Creo que nunca ha oído hablar del elemento sorpresa.
- EN: As I said before Mr. Kelly... the element of surprise.ES: Ya se lo dije, Sr. Kelly. El elemento sorpresa.
- EN: We don't kick this off in time, we've lost the element of surprise.ES: ¡Perderemos el elemento sorpresa!
- EN: A pose with an element of surprise.ES: Una pose con un elemento sorpresa.
- EN: Let's run away. The element of surprise was lost.ES: Vámonos, ya no podéis sorprenderles.
- EN: The element of surprise was complete.ES: La sorpresa fue completa.
- EN: Always prefer to utilize element of surprise... never to be victim.ES: Siempre prefiero usar el elemento sorpresa, nunca ser víctima de ella.
- EN: Lovers use element of surprise.ES: Los amantes usan el factor sorpresa.
- EN: No element of surprise.ES: Se acabó la sorpresa.
- EN: Murderers don't work that way, they depend on the element of surprise.ES: Los asesinos no se comportan así. Cuentan con el elemento sorpresa.
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Sourced from Wiktionary
Source: Wiktionary