double take

noun
1.
a rapid or surprised second look, either literal or figurative, at a person or situation whose significance had not been completely grasped at first:
His friends did a double take when they saw how much weight he had lost.
Origin
1935-40, Americanism
British Dictionary definitions for double-take

double take

noun
1.
(esp in comedy) a delayed reaction by a person to a remark, situation, etc
Word Origin and History for double-take
n.

1922, from double (adj.) + take (n.).

Slang definitions & phrases for double-take

double-take

noun

A sudden second look or a laugh or gesture over something one has at first ignored or accepted; a belated reaction: She suddenly caught the reference and did a double-take

verb

: I double-took a little bit when she ordered a cigar (1940s+)