catch sb off guard
to surprise someone by doing something which they are not expecting and are not ready for

[TahlilGaran] Advanced Learner's Dictionary ▲

catch off guard
catch (someone) off guard
to surprise someone.
He's used to being interviewed and it seems that no question catches him off guard.

catch/take (someone) off guard
to surprise someone by doing or saying something they were not expecting.
One of the larger airlines caught its rivals off guard yesterday by suddenly announcing a cut in fares.

When they asked me to babysit, I was taken off guard and found myself agreeing to it.

catch/take (someone) off guard
to surprise someone by doing or saying something they were not expecting.
One of the larger airlines caught its rivals off guard yesterday by suddenly announcing a cut in fares.

When they asked me to babysit, I was taken off guard and found myself agreeing to it.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

catch off guard
to catch a person at a time of carelessness
I was caught off guard when the teacher asked me about my homework.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

catch off guard
v. phr. To challenge or confront a person at a time of lack of preparedness or sufficient care.
The suspect was caught off guard by the detective and confessed where he had hidden the stolen car.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

catch someone off guard
catch (someone) off guard
to surprise someone.
He's used to being interviewed and it seems that no question catches him off guard.

catch/take (someone) off guard
to surprise someone by doing or saying something they were not expecting.
One of the larger airlines caught its rivals off guard yesterday by suddenly announcing a cut in fares.

When they asked me to babysit, I was taken off guard and found myself agreeing to it.

catch/take (someone) off guard
to surprise someone by doing or saying something they were not expecting.
One of the larger airlines caught its rivals off guard yesterday by suddenly announcing a cut in fares.

When they asked me to babysit, I was taken off guard and found myself agreeing to it.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

catch someone off guard
to catch a person at a time of carelessness
I was caught off guard when the teacher asked me about my homework.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲