catch unawares/unprepared/by surprise
idiom
: to affect (someone) in a sudden, unexpected and surprising way
The new law caught them unawares.
They were caught unprepared by the crisis.
The announcement caught me by surprise
Cite this Entry
“Catch unawares/unprepared/by surprise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catch%20unawares%2Funprepared%2Fby%20surprise. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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