catch (someone) off guard
Meaning(s)
1. surprise somebody in a way that leaves them confused and vulnerable
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
the news caught me totally off guard
Analysis
To catch someone off guard means to surprise someone by doing something that they are not expecting or prepared for.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The news caught me totally off guard. I was temporarily lost for words!
- The surprise party caught me completely off guard. I didn't suspect a thing!
Professional Examples (Basic)
- I caught my boss off guard when I said I was resigning. She thought I was very happy working there.
- The rival company will not be expecting us to bid for this contract, so we have a great chance to catch them off guard and steal it from under their noses!