"take sb by surprise" in German to take sb. by surprise jdn. überraschen jdn. überrumpeln jdn. überfahren Detailed translations for "take sb by surprise" to take sb. by surprise to take sb. by surprise(also: to surprise sb., to throw sb. a curve ball, to catch sb. off guard, to catch sb. on the hop) jdn. überraschen{transitive verb} to take sb. by surprise(also: to catch sb. on the hop) jdn. überrumpeln to take sb. by surprise jdn. überfahren{transitive verb}