Word: aback
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Taken aback by the suggestion that I could personally participate in overthrowing American democracy, my first reaction was to say, “That’s not how we do it in the United States.” Maybe Argentina—a country in which a twenty-year regime of any sort is a remarkable bout of stability, and in which the Montoneros, a leftist paramilitary group of the 1960s and ‘70s, continue to capture the imagination of the young intelligencia—had taught its youth to value radical action over respect for democracy...
...comfort with PDA, New England's puritanical roots must have rubbed off on me. I'll admit I was taken aback at seeing a couple having sex on Avenue Kleber en plein air on their street-facing balcony. For the first couple of weeks in Paris, each time I saw a couple kissing on the street, I was reminded of the morning a man shouted “Excusez moi!” and then “Regardez!” before proceeding to show me something I surely did not want to “regard...
...Episcopal Church reacted angrily to the communiqué. It was seen as interference and colonialism. I was a bit taken aback because I didn't see it as the primates trying to dictate terms, but to say, look, here is a scheme which we think you could work with. But I've occasionally thought - rather mischievously - that the issue could be described [to the Americans] in terms of a good American slogan: No taxation without representation. That is, in some parts of the world, the decisions of the Episcopal Church are [incorrectly] taken to be decisions that the local Anglican...
...sound like I’m unnecessarily bashing New England, perhaps it’s because I arrived at Harvard somewhat taken aback that my Texas roots made me an enemy. I was initially stoked for leaving my Dallas residence for an area of the country that I thought was a haven of tolerance and liberalism. I was shocked, however, at the number of “I’m sorry’s” that I received upon telling people I came from Texas. Not only was I surprised, but I was offended that my entire state...
...watering hole during a typical Austin political shindig. A local county official from east Texas, "some old racist judge," as Molly called him, approached. Bullock, who had yet to swear off drinking, introduced the official "to my good friend Molly Ivins." The man was aghast, but he was taken aback further when Bullock introduced him next to his personnel director, Miles, an African American. Then Richards leaned forward, proffered a hand, according to Molly, and said, "How do you do, I'm Mrs. Miles...