Taken aback

[Ernesto]

One of the hazards faced in days of sailing ships has been incorporated into English to describe someone who has been [jolted] by unpleasant news. We say that person has been [taken aback]. The person is at a momentary loss; unable to act or even to speak. A danger faced by sailing ships was for a sudden shift in wind to come up (from a sudden squall), blowing the sails back against the masts, putting the ship [in grave] danger of having the masts break off and rendering the ship totally helpless. The ship was taken aback.