It Took Me By Surprise

My husband [his blog here] has warped me. He always plays with words and double meanings and we laugh about it, and now he's got me doing it. And just when I do it he goes all literal on me again, and that makes it funnier. At least, it is to me. Let me report this morning's shower conversation to you.

Husband: [Yak yak yak] ... and it took me by surprise.

Me: Hmmm.

Husband: Hmmm what?

Me: Oh, I was thinking about that phrase, "it took me by surprise." Like, what does it mean that something "took me?" And "took me" where? And what does it mean to be taken "by surprise?" How do you do that?

Husband: Maybe it's like "Uncle George was out driving with Aunt Ruth, and he took her by surprise."

Okay. Maybe you'd have to understand that his Uncle George and Aunt Ruth live in Surprise, Arizona.

Well, at least I thought it was funny!