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
Katy	['keiti]
Florentina	-	Spanish, Late Roman
Fedelma	-	Irish
Heinrike	hien-REE-kə	German
ÈRic	-	Catalan
Bond	[bɔnd]