caught flat-footed
Caught unprepared, taken by surprise, as in The reporter's question caught the President flat-footed. This usage comes from one or another sport in which a player should be on his or her toes, ready to act. [c. 1900]
Words nearby caught flat-footed
caudine forks,
caudle,
caudle cup,
caught,
caught dead, wouldn't be,
caught flat-footed,
caught in the middle,
caught short,
caught with one's pants down, be,
caul,
cauld