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Word · transitive verb · C2allegeState formally that someone did something illegal or wrong, although it has not been proved.navoditi ili tvrditi da; iznositi nedokazanu tvrdnju ili optužbuIdiom · C2be caught off guardBe unexpectedly surprised and momentarily unprepared to respond.biti zatečen; biti uhvaćen nespreman; biti iznenađen i nespremanIdiom · B2be on the same pageShare the same understanding, expectations, or plan about a situation.isto razumeti stvari; biti usaglašen; imati isti dogovorWord · transitive verb · berate someone for/about something · C1berateCriticize someone very angrily and harshly, often at length.žestoko izgrditi; grubo kritikovati; obrušiti se na nekogaPhrase · B2bring something upIntroduce a subject so that people begin talking about it.pokrenuti temu; pomenuti; izneti pitanje u razgovoruPhrase · B2brush up onRefresh or improve knowledge or a skill you learned before by reviewing or practicing it.obnoviti znanje; podsetiti se i uvežbati ranije naučenoIdiom · C1by no meansEmphasize that something is definitely not true, complete, easy, certain, or otherwise the case.nipošto; nikako; ni u kom slučaju; ni izdalekaIdiom · C1come in handyBecome useful for a particular purpose or situation, often when the need arises unexpectedly.dobro doći; biti od koristi; zatrebati i poslužitiPhrase · C2come to realizeGradually begin to understand or recognize something that was not clear before.postepeno shvatiti; doći do saznanja; uvidetiPhrase · B2come upArise or become relevant, as when an issue needs attention or a topic is mentioned in conversation.iskrsnuti; pojaviti se; biti pomenuto u razgovoruWord · uncountable noun · C2cordialityFriendly, warm, and polite behavior, especially in a formal relationship or meeting.srdačnost; ljubaznost; predusretljivostPhrase · B2cut backReduce how much you spend, use, consume, produce, or do.smanjiti; skresati; ograničiti potrošnju ili količinuIdiom · C1cut cornersSave time, money, or effort by skipping steps or lowering standards, often harming quality or safety.štedeti na račun kvaliteta; preskakati važne korakeWord · uncountable noun · C2equanimityA calm, steady state of mind, especially when a situation is difficult or stressful.prisebnost; staloženost; duševna ravnotežaPhrase · B2follow upInvestigate something further or take another action connected with an earlier message, event, or lead.proveriti dalje; preduzeti naredni korak; naknadno se javitiConstruction · C2for allSay that a quality, advantage, effort, or apparent fact does not change a contrasting result.uprkos; i pored; bez obzira naIdiom · B2for next to nothingFor a very small amount of money; extremely cheaply.za gotovo ništa; za bagateluPhrase · B2get around toFinally find the time or opportunity to do something you have intended to do for a while.konačno stići da; naći vremena da; napokon se latiti nečegaIdiom · B2get the hang ofLearn how to do or use something that initially seems difficult or unfamiliar.ući u štos; pohvatati kako nešto funkcioniše; ovladati osnovamaPhrase · B2go overExamine something carefully, or review and explain it again.pažljivo pregledati; proveriti; ponovo preći kroz gradivo ili objašnjenjeIdiom · C2go through the motionsDo something mechanically, without real interest, care, or emotional involvement.odrađivati nešto reda radi; raditi nešto mehaničkiConstruction · C1hardly … whenA formal structure showing that a second past event happened almost immediately after the first.tek što … već; jedva da je … kadPhrase · C2hold off onDeliberately wait before doing, deciding, or proceeding with something.odložiti; sačekati sa nečim; zasad ne preduzimati neštoIdiom · C1if anythingUsed to correct an impression by saying that the opposite is more likely true; also used to allow for the possibility that the answer is nothing.ako išta; ako ništa drugo; naprotiv, pre bi se moglo rećiConstruction · C1It’s high timeSay that an action should happen now because it is already overdue or should have happened earlier.krajnje je vreme da; bilo bi već vreme daIdiom · C2jump to conclusionsDecide what is true too quickly, before you have enough facts or evidence.donositi preuranjene zaključke; brzopleto zaključitiIdiom · B2keep an open mindDelay forming a fixed opinion and remain willing to consider facts, ideas, or possibilities fairly.ostati otvorenog uma; ne donositi sud unapred; biti spreman razmotriti različite mogućnostiPhrase · B2kind of / sort ofUsed as softeners to make a description or statement less direct, strong, or exact.nekako; pomalo; donekle — za ublažavanje izjaveConstruction · C2lestSo that something unwanted does not happen; for fear that it might happen.da ne; kako ne bi; iz straha daConstruction · C1let aloneIntroduce something that is even less possible, likely, or true than what has just been mentioned.a kamoliConstruction · C1little did I knowLook back on a moment when you were unaware of an important, often surprising development that became clear later.nisam ni slutio / slutila; malo sam tada znao / znalaIdiom · B2make the most ofUse or enjoy an opportunity, resource, or limited period of time as fully as possible.iskoristiti na najbolji način; izvući maksimum iz; što bolje iskoristitiPhrase · B1make upInvent a story, explanation, or excuse, either creatively or to make someone believe something untrue.izmisliti; smisliti priču ili izgovorConstruction · C2much asAcknowledge a strong feeling, wish, or fact before stating a contrasting reality; although or however much.koliko god da; iako; ma kolikoPhrase · B2narrow downReduce a range of choices or possibilities to a smaller number.suziti izbor; smanjiti broj mogućnostiPhrase · B1not necessarilyUsed to say that something may be true, but is not certain or does not follow automatically.ne mora da znači; nije nužnoConstruction · C1not so much … as …Correct or refine a description by saying that the second explanation or quality is more accurate than the first.ne toliko X koliko Y; pre Y nego XWord · adjective · often parsimonious with something · C2parsimoniousUnwilling to spend, give, or use more money or resources than the absolute minimum.škrt; preterano štedljiv; krajnje neizdašanPhrase · B2phase outGradually stop using, providing, or producing something until it is no longer used or available.postepeno ukinuti; postepeno povući iz upotrebePhrase · C1pin downDiscover exact details about something, or make someone give a definite answer or commitment.tačno utvrditi; precizirati; privoliti nekoga na konkretan odgovorPhrase · B2raise a concernTell others about a possible problem or risk so that they can consider or address it.izneti zabrinutost; ukazati na mogući problemWord · transitive verb · usually relegate someone/something to something · C1relegatePut someone or something in a lower, less important, or less visible position or role.potisnuti; svrstati u niži rang; dodeliti sporednu uloguWord · transitive verb and countable noun · reprimand someone for something · C1reprimandOfficially and seriously tell someone that their behavior is unacceptable.ukoriti; izreći ukor; zvanično prekoritiPhrase · B2run downTired, weak, and not fully healthy, often after too much work, stress, or too little rest.iscrpljen i oslabljen; klonuo; iznurenPhrase · B2run intoMeet someone by chance; also, unexpectedly encounter a problem or difficulty.slučajno sresti; naići na problemPhrase · B2set asideReserve time, money, food, or another resource for a particular person or purpose.odvojiti; izdvojiti; ostaviti sa strane za određenu svrhuWord · adjective · C1sinisterSeeming evil or threatening, and making you feel that something bad may happen.zlokoban; mračan i preteći; koji nagoveštava nešto lošePhrase · B2sort something outDeal successfully with a problem, confusing situation, or practical arrangement.rešiti; srediti; razjasniti problem ili situacijuIdiom · B2take it from thereContinue a process from a stated point, deciding or handling the later steps after that.nastaviti odatle; preuzeti dalje; potom odlučiti o sledećim koracimaIdiom · C1take something at face valueAccept a statement, appearance, or situation as it seems, without questioning it or checking more deeply.prihvatiti nešto zdravo za gotovo; poverovati onome što se vidi ili kaže bez proverePhrase · B2tell someone offSpeak angrily or sternly to someone because they have done something wrong.izgrditi nekoga; očitati nekome bukvicu; prekoriti nekogaIdiom · B2touch baseTalk to someone briefly to exchange updates, check a situation, or coordinate next steps.kratko se čuti; javiti se radi dogovora; proveriti stanjePhrase · B2turn outBe discovered to be a certain way, often unexpectedly; also, have a particular final result.ispostaviti se; ispasti na krajuWord · adjective · usually predicative or describing behavior · C1unhingedBehaving in a wild, uncontrolled, or seriously unreasonable way.rastrojen; van kontrole; neuravnotežen; potpuno nerazumanConstruction · B2whereasConnect two facts or ideas in order to show a clear contrast between them.dok; a; za razliku od toga štoWord · adjective · also informal adjective or regional adverb in other senses · C1wickedMorally very bad, cruel, or deliberately harmful.zao; opak; pokvaren; zlobanPhrase · B2work aroundFind a practical way to avoid or bypass a problem or limitation without removing it completely.zaobići problem; naći alternativno rešenje; snaći se uprkos ograničenjuPhrase · B2worn outExtremely tired and lacking energy after effort, stress, or a long period of activity.iscrpljen; premoren; potpuno umoranConstruction · C1would ratherExpress what you prefer another person to do or not do now or in the future, using a past-simple clause.više bih voleo / volela da neko...; radije bih da neko...Phrase · B2wrap upFinish or bring an activity, discussion, or piece of work to a close.privesti kraju; završiti; zaključiti

Idiom · C2 · Neutral · common in conversation, news, and professional contexts

be caught off guard

Review
Meaning

Be unexpectedly surprised and momentarily unprepared to respond.

Srpski

biti zatečen; biti uhvaćen nespreman; biti iznenađen i nespreman

A presenter is surprised when an unexpected object enters through a gap in a circle of preparation cards.

Memory scene

Preparation cards form a protective circle, but one open gap lets a surprise fly straight through.

How it sounds

bee kawt off GARD

Stress caught and guard; caught is the past participle in the passive form.

Build the sentence

be caught off guard by + event · catch + person + off guard

The unexpected questioncaught me off guardduring the briefing

Use it

We were caught off guard by the sudden change in the filing deadline.

By introduces the event that created the surprise.

Her detailed follow-up question caught the normally confident speaker off guard.

The active form places the surprised person between caught and off guard.

Watch out

The phrase combines surprise with lack of readiness. For a pleasant surprise that causes no difficulty, surprised may be more accurate. Write off guard as two words in the idiom.

Nearby language

closestbe taken aback

Also means be surprised, often strongly, but does not always emphasize being unprepared.

closestbe caught by surprise

A very close and transparent alternative.

informalbe blindsided

Stronger and often suggests a harmful development that the person had no warning about.

Make it yours

Situacija

Na sastanku su vam bez najave postavili detaljno pitanje o podacima koje niste poneli.

Your task
No automatic grading—compare meaning, grammar, and tone.