They walked nowhere alone, but in armed groups, to defend themselves against surprise.

The rest were out as a screen against surprise.

"He feeds and clothes me," she said promptly, proof against surprise.

Classes were often held in the evenings when dusk or darkness gave some protection against surprise by their captors.

About fifty men marched ahead in loose order to guard against surprise, while as many more followed behind.

You must, like the soldier, take precautions against surprise.

The king seemed to be protected excellently against surprise.

Understandable, maybe, but a defense system useless against surprise attacks is not very useful.

In matters of foreign policy, flexibility is a President's primary defense against surprise.

He let his eyelids come up slowly against possible surprise, set to snap them shut again if there should be a need.