catch napping
Find completely unprepared
To catch someone napping is to find them unprepared or off guard, taking advantage of their inattention: The sudden price drop caught investors napping.
The image is of someone literally asleep when they should be alert.
We caught the defense napping and scored an easy goal.
- nod offFall briefly unconscious
- napBrief daytime rest
- bushwhackSurprise attack from cover
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- sleepingUnconscious rest state
sneak attack · drop the ball · ambush · resting · wide awake · blindsided · sucker punch · wrong-footed · nodding · unaware · out of the blue · in the dark · flat-footed · off-guard · taken aback · ill-prepared · unready · easy target
catch nappingforewarn
Alert in advance
alert · tip off · heads up · give notice · warn
catch nappingplay fair
Act honestly in competition
forewarn · play by the rules · put on notice · alert · tip off
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