If the birds have not flown for three years, they will soar into the clouds. If they have not sung for three years, their songs will take everyone by surprise.

三年不蜚，蜚将冲天；三年不鸣，鸣将惊人。

《新英汉大辞典》

They reduced the odds that a predator would take us by surprise or that we'd overlook a nearby source of food.

这样一来，我们被对手突袭的机会减小了，也不会错过触手可及的食物。

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How it happens will take you completely by surprise.

这件事情的发生会让你呆若木鸡。

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The deluge on Monday - which appeared to take the authorities by surprise - saw people sleep in their cars or abandon them as motorways and A roads clogged up.

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"The number of sites of disorder was something we hadn't experienced in the city before - and that did take us by surprise, " he said.

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The French right-of-centre newspaper Le Figaro reports that Mr Hollande's announcement on the TF1 channel appeared to take party colleagues by surprise.

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