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
Agnes	AG-nəs (English), AHK-nes (German), AHKH-nəs (Dutch), AHNG-nes (Swedish)	English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Garnet (2)	-	English
Jorie	JAWR-ee	English
Paulus	-	Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin
Dionysios	-	Greek, Ancient Greek
Kephalos	-	Greek Mythology