off his guard
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective phrase: - Not prepared or vigilant; in a state of being surprised or vulnerable because one was not paying attention or expecting something. It describes a moment when someone's usual caution or alertness is relaxed, leaving them exposed.
Usage
This phrase is used to describe a person's state at a specific moment when they are surprised or caught unprepared. It typically follows a verb like "catch," "find," or "take."
Examples
- The sudden question caught him off his guard, and he couldn't think of an answer.
- The goalkeeper was caught off his guard by the quick free kick.
- Her kind words found me off my guard, and I became emotional.
- A good interviewer knows how to ask questions that take a candidate off their guard.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be adapted for different subjects by changing the possessive pronoun: off her guard, off their guard, off my guard, off your guard.
- It is often used in contexts involving strategy, competition, interrogation, or emotional situations where one party gains an advantage by surprising another.
Variants and Related Words
- Off-guard (adjective): Used attributively, often hyphenated.
- It was an off-guard moment.
- Unprepared (adjective): Not ready or planned in advance.
- Unwary (adjective): Not cautious of possible dangers or problems.
Synonyms
- Unprepared
- Unwary
- Unalert
- With one's defenses down
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To catch/take someone off guard: To surprise someone by doing something they did not expect.
- The news of the merger caught everyone off guard.
- To be on (one's) guard: To be alert and prepared for danger or difficulty. (This is the direct opposite).
- You must be on your guard against pickpockets in the market.
Adjective
- not prepared or vigilant
- the blow caught him napping
- caught in an off-guard moment
- found him off his guard