double-take
Surprised second look
A double-take is a delayed reaction to something surprising or unexpected, where a person looks at something, looks away, then looks back again as the significance registers.
The term captures that moment when your brain catches up to what your eyes saw: I did a double-take when I spotted my ex at the party.
It's a staple of physical comedy, where actors exaggerate the bewildered second glance for laughs.
Frighten suddenly
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
- amazementOverwhelming surprise and wonder
bewilderment · stupefaction · gobsmacked · thunderstruck · dumbfounded · speechless · staggered · confounded
Joke told through action
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- timingArt of choosing moments
- reaction shotShot showing observer's response
- muggingRobbery with violence
pratfall · deadpan · Buster Keaton · cartoon · bug-eyed · over-the-shoulder
Perceiving something as known
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- aha momentSudden flash of understanding
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
- dawningFirst light emerging
click · insight · awareness · comprehension · discernment · clarity · revelation · delayed reaction
Inability to accept something
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- mistrustLack of faith
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
questioning · uncertainty · bafflement · puzzlement · perplexity · confusion · disconcertment · flabbergasted
startle
Frighten suddenly
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- astonishmentIntense sudden wonder
amazement · bewilderment · stupefaction · gobsmacked · thunderstruck · dumbfounded · speechless · staggered · confounded · dazed
sight gag
Joke told through action
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- timingArt of choosing moments
- reaction shotShot showing observer's response
mugging · pratfall · deadpan · Buster Keaton · cartoon · bug-eyed · over-the-shoulder
recognition
Perceiving something as known
- epiphanySudden profound insight
- aha momentSudden flash of understanding
- eurekaDiscovery triumph cry
dawning · click · insight · awareness · comprehension · discernment · clarity · revelation · delayed reaction · mental replay
incredulity
Inability to accept something
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- mistrustLack of faith
suspicion · questioning · uncertainty · bafflement · puzzlement · perplexity · confusion · disconcertment · flabbergasted · squint
- slapstickpratfall, banana peel, pie throw, falling down, custard pie
- perceptionsee, vision, seeing, senses, observing
- Wait phraseshold on, hang on, just a sec, one moment, pause
double-takeimmediate reaction
Undelayed response to stimulus
snap judgment · knee-jerk reaction · gut reaction · first impression · quick take
double-takeglance
Brief, casual look
inattention · obliviousness · blank stare · disregard · indifference
take, double, taken, taking, duplicate, doubled, doubling, doubles, duplicated