blindside
Hit without warning
To blindside someone is to hit or attack them from an unexpected direction—literally from outside their field of vision.
The word comes from football, where defenders strike ball carriers from their blind side.
The figurative sense dominates: to catch someone completely off guard with unexpected news or action.
The layoffs blindsided everyone.
She was blindsided by the breakup.
Side of body
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- diversionRedirection of attention
stealth · encirclement · outmaneuver · pincer · surprise attack · infiltration · guerrilla · subterfuge
Surprise strike from concealment
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- stunDaze by force
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
startle · sucker-punch · broadside · unforeseen · unprepared · unaware · sudden · abrupt
Gear or takedown
- sackRough fabric bag
- hitSuccessful contact or strike
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- quarterbackPassing position in football
linebacker · defense · rush · blitz · collision · contact · offensive line · protection
Betray someone's trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- selloutCompromiser of integrity
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
disloyalty · perfidy · traitor · undermine · sabotage · deceit · betrayer · false friend
Out in open
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- unguardedWithout protection or caution
- unawareLacking knowledge of something
susceptible · open · helpless · oblivious · unwitting · unsuspecting · peripheral · flank
flank
Side of body
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- feintDeceptive mock attack
diversion · stealth · encirclement · outmaneuver · pincer · surprise attack · infiltration · guerrilla · subterfuge · deception
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- stunDaze by force
jolt · startle · sucker-punch · broadside · unforeseen · unprepared · unaware · sudden · abrupt · thunderbolt
tackle
Gear or takedown
quarterback · linebacker · defense · rush · blitz · collision · contact · offensive line · protection · pocket
backstab
Betray someone's trust
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- selloutCompromiser of integrity
two-faced · disloyalty · perfidy · traitor · undermine · sabotage · deceit · betrayer · false friend · stab in the back
exposed
Out in open
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- unguardedWithout protection or caution
unaware · susceptible · open · helpless · oblivious · unwitting · unsuspecting · peripheral · flank · uncovered
tackle
Gear or takedown
illegal · penalty · shoulder charge · late hit · high tackle · collision · flanker · binding · referee · foul play
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- plot twistsplot twist, twist ending, surprise ending, unexpected turn, final reveal
- reality TVSurvivor, contestant, The Bachelor, elimination, The Bachelorette
- stunstun, daze, shock, stupefy, stagger
- surprise attacksambush, sneak attack, catch off guard, sneak up, pounce
- rugbyscrum, try, rugby, Rugby World Cup, rugby union
blindsideforewarn
Alert in advance
warn · prepare · alert · tip off · give notice
- blindside hitCollision from outside vision