Catch off guard Meaning in English
expression
ˈkætʃ/ /ˈɔf/ /ˈɡɑɹd
KATCH-awf-GAHRD
kˈætʃ/ /ˈɒf/ /ɡˈɑːd
KATCH-of-GAHD
Definition
To surprise someone when they are not prepared or expecting something.
Usage & Nuances
Common in both formal and informal English. Often used in passive form ('was caught off guard'). Used for emotional, physical, or situational surprises. Interchangeable with 'take by surprise' in many contexts.
Spanish: sorprender - tomar desprevenidoPortuguese (BR): pegar de surpresa - pegar desprevenidoPortuguese (PT): apanhar desprevenido - apanhar de surpresaChinese (Simplified): 让...措手不及 - 出其不意Chinese (Traditional): 讓...措手不及 - 出其不意Hindi: अचकचा देना - अचानक पकड़नाArabic: يفاجئ - يأخذ على حين غرةBengali: অপ্রস্তুত অবস্থায় ধরাওয়া - অপ্রস্তুতে ফেলে দেওয়াRussian: застать врасплохJapanese: 不意を突く - 予期せず驚かせるVietnamese: làm ai đó bất ngờ - khiến ai không kịp chuẩn bịKorean: 방심할 때 놀라게 하다 - 불시에 놀라게 하다Turkish: gafil avlamak - hazırlıksız yakalamakUrdu: غافل پکڑنا - اچانک حیران کرناIndonesian: membuat lengah - mengejutkan tanpa persiapan
Example Sentences
The loud noise caught me off guard.
basic
The teacher's question caught him off guard.
basic
Sudden rain caught us off guard.
basic
"Sorry, you really caught me off guard with that question!"
natural
He was totally caught off guard by the announcement.
natural
If you plan ahead, you won’t be caught off guard.
natural