be caught off (one's) guard Idiom

catch you off guard

surprise you, say what you do not expect Did my comment about dog poop catch you off guard?

guard is down

not ready for a fight, not protecting yourself I wasn't ready for her criticism. My guard was down.

off guard

not alert to the unexpected It caught me off guard when she suddenly asked me to lend her $800.

on guard

careful, wary He has been keeping on guard since the accident last month.

on your guard

careful, cautious Be on your guard when you buy a used car - don't buy a lemon.

on one's guard

Idiom(s): on (one's) guard

Theme: CAUTION

cautious; watchful.
• Be on guard. There are pickpockets around here.
• You had better be on your guard.

guard against

Idiom(s): guard against sb or sth

Theme: CAUTION

to take care to avoid someone or something.
• Try to guard against getting a cold.
• You should guard against pickpockets.

catch sb off guard

Idiom(s): catch someone off guard AND catch one off one's guard

Theme: SURPRISE

to catch a person at a time of carelessness.
• Tom caught Ann off guard and frightened her.
• She caught me off my guard, and I told the location of the jewels.

catch one off one's guard

As much use as a chocolate fire-guard

A fire-guard is used in front of a fireplace for safety. A chocolate fire-guard is of no use. An alternative to 'As much use as a chocolate teapot'.

be bent off (one's) guard

To be taken by surprise; to be bent back one is vulnerable, careless, or inattentive. We'll delay until he's bent off guard, and again we'll booty him and his aggregation for all they're worth! Don't be bent off your guard. There are a lot of apprehensive characters about here.Learn more: caught, guard, off

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More Idioms/Phrases

Arrow in the quiver As cold as ice As cold as stone As cool as a cucumber As good as new As mad as a hatter As mad as a wrongly shot hog As much use as a chocolate fire-guard As much use as a chocolate teapot As much use as a handbrake on a canoe As neat as a new pin As one man