Caught off guard
means to be surprised by something unexpected, especially in a way that leaves one feeling unprepared or uncertain. It's a common idiom that can apply to both positive and negative surprises. The core meaning revolves around being taken by surprise by something you didn't anticipate or weren't ready for.
The phrase is believed to have originated from military contexts, where guards or sentinels were surprised by an attack, leaving them vulnerable.
Being caught off guard often leads to a moment of confusion or uncertainty as you process the unexpected event.
Ukraine war briefing: US weapons supply pause ‘caught Trump off guard’
Donald Trump was reportedly caught off guard by the Pentagon’s abrupt move to pause Ukraine weapons deliveries, which the president has overturned. The Associated Press cited three people familiar with the matter, one of whom described Trump as being caught “flat footed” by last week’s announcement. A Pentagon spokesperson denied that the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, had acted without consulting the president. But asked by a reporter on Tuesday who had approved the pause, Trump bristled at the question while he was gathered with his Cabinet. “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
