The term 'Takes by Surprise' can be summarized by two crossword solutions: STARTLES (8 letters) and CatchesOffGuard (15 letters). STARTLES is an adjective that means to cause sudden fear, alarm, or amazement in someone. It is often used to describe a reaction to something unexpected. CatchesOffGuard is a verb phrase that means to take someone unawares, usually by doing something they weren't expecting. It is often used to describe a situation where someone is taken aback by a sudden event.