caught flat-footed
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Caught unprepared, taken by surprise, as in The reporter's question caught the President flat-footed. This usage comes from one or another sport in which a player should be on his or her toes, ready to act. [c. 1900]
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Words nearby caught flat-footed
Caudine Forks, caudle, caudle cup, caught, caught dead, wouldn't be, caught flat-footed, caught in the middle, caught short, caul, cauld, cauldrife
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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