Idiom · C2 · Neutral · common in conversation, news, and professional contexts
be caught off guard
bee kawt off GARD Stress caught and guard; caught is the past participle in the passive form.
Be unexpectedly surprised and momentarily unprepared to respond.
biti zatečen; biti uhvaćen nespreman; biti iznenađen i nespreman
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.
Build the sentence
be caught off guard by + event · catch + person + off guard
Memory scene
Preparation cards form a protective circle, but one open gap lets a surprise fly straight through.
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
Also means be surprised, often strongly, but does not always emphasize being unprepared.
A very close and transparent alternative.
Stronger and often suggests a harmful development that the person had no warning about.
Make it yours
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