Fright vs Surprise - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between fright and surprise

is that fright is a state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm while surprise is something not expected.

As verbs the difference between fright and surprise

is that fright is to frighten while surprise is to cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.

As an adjective surprise is

unexpected.

fright

English

Noun

(wikipedia fright)

A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.

* 1994 , (Stephen Fry), (The Hippopotamus) Chapter 2:

With a bolt of fright he remembered that there was no bathroom in the Hobhouse Room. He leapt along the corridor in a panic, stopping by the long-case clock at the end where he flattened himself against the wall.

Anything strange, ugly or shocking, producing a feeling of alarm or aversion.

* 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , I:

Her maids were old, and if she took a new one,

You might be sure she was a perfect fright ;

She did this during even her husband's life

I recommend as much to every wife.

Derived terms

* fright wig

Verb

(en verb)

(archaic) to frighten

surprise

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (qualifier)

Noun

(en noun)

Something not expected.

* 2013 , Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert’s debut goal gives England victory over Scotland'' (in ''The Guardian , 14 August 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/14/england-scotland-international-friendly]

They had begun brightly but the opening goal was such a blow to their confidence it almost came as a surprise when Walcott, running through the inside-right channel, beat the offside trap and, checking back on to his left foot, turned a low shot beyond Allan McGregor in the Scotland goal.

* {{quote-news, year=2012, date=September 7, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport

, title= Moldova 0-5 England , passage=England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.}}

(attributive) Unexpected.

The feeling that something unexpected has happened.

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=20 citation , passage=The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen.

(obsolete) A dish covered with a crust of raised pastry, but with no other contents.

(King)

Synonyms

* unexpected * (feeling) astonishment

Derived terms

* take by surprise

Verb

(surpris)

To cause (someone) to feel unusually alarmed or delighted.

It surprises me that I owe twice as much as I thought I did.

To do something to (a person) that they are not expecting, as a surprise.

He doesn’t know that I’m in the country – I thought I’d turn up at his house and surprise him.

To undergo or witness something unexpected.

He doesn’t surprise easily.

To cause surprise.

To attack unexpectedly.

To take unawares.

Adjective

(-)

Unexpected.

* {{quote-book, year=1913, author=

, title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=4 citation , passage=“I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I??? Why didn’t I telephone??? Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. …”}} 1000 English basic words ----