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
Cosette	-	French, Literature
Jooseppi	YO:-sep-pee	Finnish
Biaggio	-	Italian (Rare)
Halsten	-	Swedish
Judie	['dʒu:di]
Benas	-	Lithuanian