catch (someone) flat-footed

To startle someone; to come upon someone unawares and/or when he or she is unprepared. Usually used in the past tense. The security guard caught the thieves flat-footed. That essay question in the exam caught me completely flat-footed.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Ganizani	gah-nee-ZAH-nee	Southern African, Chewa
AloÍSio	-	Portuguese
Set	SET (English), SAYT (English)	Egyptian Mythology (Hellenized)
Stephanos	-	Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek, Greek
Tamzen	-	English (Rare)
Jacobo	hah-KO-bo	Spanish