“Double take” is an English idiom used to describe a surprised reaction to something unexpected, often with a short delay. It can also refer to an exaggerated reaction in acting, with origins in film slang. Idioms are common in English and acquire new meanings through common usage. The phrase can also refer to a delayed reaction to a startling event. Its association with film and television comes from the term used to describe a scene that needs to be shot twice.
“Double take” is an English idiom referring to someone who is surprised to see or hear something unexpected and makes a surprised reaction. Often, this occurs after a short delay, as it takes a person a few moments to realize that what they are experiencing is out of the ordinary. Also, “double take” is a term used in acting to refer to an actor or actress’s exaggerated reaction to something for comedic effect. In fact, the origins of the language came from film slang, referring to a scene that has to be shot twice due to a mistake the first time around.
It is common in the English language for writers and speakers to use certain phrases meant to mean something entirely different from the literal meanings of the words they contain. These phrases are known as idioms and acquire their new accepted meanings through common usage in a certain culture. Idioms are often colorfully descriptive and more memorable than ordinary expressions. Whenever someone says, “I did a double take,” he’s using an idiom.
The most basic use of this phrase occurs when someone has been startled and is expressing that reaction without thinking about it. As an example of how the idiom is used, imagine someone saying, “When I saw her walk in with that weird guy, I double-crossed.” In this example, the implication is that the speaker never imagined seeing the two together, and as a result he reacted by surprise to the couple’s presence.
In many cases, this idiom can refer to people who react a little late to what is happening. Often, a startling event takes a moment or two to register in the minds of the people experiencing it. That means they might first act like nothing is different, at least until she realizes something strange has happened. At that point, they do a “double take”.
This idiom also has an association with film and television. The origins of the idiom actually come from film circles. When a director has to reshoot a scene for the second time because something messed up the first, the second scene is known as a “double take”. Most commonly, the term is used in acting to describe a deliberately exaggerated reaction to something occurring within a scene. This is often used for comedic effect, and many great comedians are known for their expert timing on “double takes.”
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