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Yoss Posted 22 years ago
Vocabulary
When does 'double take' phrase could be used ?
Hi Everyone !
I live in Hungary and I've just joined this excellent forum. It looks like a dream place to learn English with real life examples that could be much more of a help than the usual dry examples of various dictionaries.
My first question is : in which situations the phrase 'double take' could be used ? I looked up it in my dictionary but I wasn't sure I understand the exact meaning of this
Would somebody be as kind to as to tell me more on this subject ?
Thank you very much in advance
Regards
Peter
I live in Hungary and I've just joined this excellent forum. It looks like a dream place to learn English with real life examples that could be much more of a help than the usual dry examples of various dictionaries.
My first question is : in which situations the phrase 'double take' could be used ? I looked up it in my dictionary but I wasn't sure I understand the exact meaning of this
Would somebody be as kind to as to tell me more on this subject ?
Thank you very much in advance
Regards
Peter
Top answer
A double take is when you very quickly take a second look at something, often out of surprise. When you are looking at the world normally it is in quite a leisurely way and you are scanning rather than taking in every detail. You double take when something of interest filters through to your brain after you have looked on past it, and your head whips back for another look.
- A double take is when you very quickly take a second look at something, often out of surprise.
- When you are looking at the world normally it is in quite a leisurely way and you are scanning rather than taking in every detail.
- You double take when something of interest filters through to your brain after you have looked on past it, and your head whips back for another look.
- Examples: I was at the football match looking round the crowd and I did a double take when I thought I saw my cousin.
- I walked past the cafe tables and did a double take at the size of that chocolate cake!
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4 Answers
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A double take is when you very quickly take a second look at something, often out of surprise. When you are looking at the world normally it is in quite a leisurely way and you are scanning rather than taking in every detail. You double take when something of interest filters through to your brain after you have looked on past it, and your head whips back for another look.
Examples:
Examples:
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And note that it is a noun only-- you can't say 'I double took'!-- and almost always in the phrase that Nona uses: 'to do a double take'. It is usually but not necessarily visual-- you can do a mental double take also.
PS: Welcome to EF, Peter!
PS: Welcome to EF, Peter!
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Thank you very much to both of you for the detailed explanation and quick response !
Regards
Peter
Regards
Peter
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Hello Yoss, Nona, and Mr M.,
I'm interested in Mr M's 'mental double-take'.
When we do a genuine double-take (e.g. when we see a famous person
in the street), the movement of the head is always right, left, up, or
down (of course).
When we are telling someone a story that includes a genuine
double-take, we replicate the movement.
But some
I'm interested in Mr M's 'mental double-take'.
When we do a genuine double-take (e.g. when we see a famous person
in the street), the movement of the head is always right, left, up, or
down (of course).
When we are telling someone a story that includes a genuine
double-take, we replicate the movement.
But some
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