off-guard

(ôf'gärd', ŏf'-)
adj.
Off one's guard; unprepared: a quiz that caught the class off-guard.

Also, off one's guard. Not watchful, easily surprised. It is often put as catch (or be caught) off guard, meaning "take (or be taken) by surprise." For example, The securities analyst was caught off guard by that financial report, or With any luck the boss will be off guard when I come in late. [Late 1600s] The antonym, on guard or on one's guard, meaning "watchful or prepared, especially to defend oneself," was first recorded in 1577. For example, In this crowd we must be on guard against pickpockets, or I'm always on my guard when I'm asked how I voted.

---

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The adjective has one meaning:

Meaning #1: not prepared or vigilant
  Synonyms: napping, off guard, off one's guard, off his guard, off her guard, off your guard

---

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - uforberedt

Français (French)
adj. - inattendu

Deutsch (German)
adj. - unvorbereitet

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - απρόσεκτος

Italiano (Italian)
impreparato

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - desguarnecido, despreparado

Русский (Russian)
врасплох

Español (Spanish)
adj. - desprevenido

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - oförberedd (på attack)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
不警惕的, 不提防的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 不警惕的, 不提防的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 비번인

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 非番で

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮לא עירני‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.