flat-footed

/ ˌflætˈfʊtɪd /

adjective

1. having flatfoot
2. informal.
   1. clumsy or awkward
   2. downright and uncompromising
3. informal.
   off guard or unawares (often in the phrase catch flat-footed )

Derived Forms

• ˌflat-ˈfootedness, noun
• ˌflat-ˈfootedly, adverb

Idioms and Phrases

see caught flat-footed .

Example Sentences

There, so taken, caught in the act, flat-footed, we are obliged to make our stand.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, it left the candidate scrambling and her campaign flat footed.

From The Daily Beast

On Sunday the publisher was caught flat-footed and scrambling to respond to the leak.

From The Daily Beast

Obama's offensive caught the Romney camp completely by surprise and left them flat-footed and slack jawed.

From The Daily Beast

Knowing that, why have the Republican presidential primary candidates been caught flat-footed every time?

From The Daily Beast

First there was a small, flat-footed scarlet slipper with a fluffy gold toe to it.

From Project Gutenberg

Since then I believe nothing more has been seen of these flat-footed people.

From Project Gutenberg

The little bunt had proved so totally unexpected that the Belden players were caught flat-footed.

From Project Gutenberg

I'd like to take a flat-footed stance as claiming that the end justified the means.

From Project Gutenberg

They are bilt sumthing like a hen, and are an up-and-down, flat-footed job.

From Project Gutenberg