off guard

phrase

: in an unprepared or unsuspecting state
Her angry response caught me off guard.

Examples of off guard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dedicate one for the car or tuck one in the undercarriage of your stroller and you’ll never be caught off guard by an unexpectedly chilly morning. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026 Convinced no good men exist in her country, Naru is caught off guard when Qodrat, Kabul TV’s most respected journalist, gives her a career opportunity. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026 As access to restrooms during the outage was blocked, some guests said they were caught off guard. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 Firefighters and authorities in both European countries were caught off guard by the virulence of the fires, which were fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change. — ABC News, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for off guard

Rhymes for off guard

See All Rhymes for off guard

Browse Nearby Words

off-grid
off guard
offhand
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Cite this Entry

“Off guard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off%20guard. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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