double take

a double take

The act of looking twice due to surprise or disbelief. Everyone did a double take at his shiny new sports car as he drove by. Men and women alike did a double take when they saw him in his tuxedo.
See also: double, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

double take

n. a surprised second look at something. Fred did a double take, then recognized Britney.
See also: double, take
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a double take
  • do a double take
  • double take, do a
  • a double taker
  • monkey's uncle, I'll be/am a
  • floor
  • floor (one)
  • floor it
  • floored
  • flooring
References in periodicals archive
Rocking a crowd of more than 800 at the Americans for Democratic Action Counter-Inaugural Gala, Hartnett, who works by day as a lawyer for the whistleblowing Government Accountability Project, and the Oxymorons had no trouble filling the dance floor at Washington's Mayflower hotel with a multigenerational crowd that answered the call to "party liberally." Grand Old Partyers arriving to celebrate in another wing of the hotel did double takes when they encountered revelers like Baltimore's Sarah McClintock, whose green brocade gown was accented with gold glitter slogans that read, "Reject the Republicans" and "Jail to the Thief." "I wanted to make a fashion statement that no one would misinterpret," announced a grinning McClintock.
MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRIC
The sight has passers-by doing double takes but it is simply 70 animals mooving across a knee-high channel to get to grazing ground on an island which is part of their fragmented farm in Co Clare.
Cows on moove across sea
High society members of the Royal Enclosure were doing double takes when Marilyn Monroe sauntered onto the exclusive lawns area this year.
Monroe look alike adds spice to Royal Enclosure at Ascot
THERE were double takes yesterday when sexy Miss Northern Ireland sped past shoppers - on a bicycle built for two.
Sexy cyclist Diane's queen of the road
"There were a lot of double takes from patients as he walked by."
Patients' double take at visitor
City Central's producer John Yorke added: "There were a few double takes."
PAUL'S AN ARRESTING SIGHT
lA York double takes Pat Eddery through the 150 mark for the season.
All Our Yesterdays
"Today's double takes me to 29 for the year, and seven of them have come in the past seven days," he said.
Southwell: Williams' excellent run continues with brace
The double takes Blanshard to five wins this year, all on turf.
BRIGHTON: Blanshard and Sweeney star