caught on the hop
catch (one) on the hop
To encounter or try to communicate or work with someone at an inopportune time, such as when they are busy or preoccupied; to catch one off guard. I'll definitely help you with that report later—you just happened to catch me on the hop right now. If Dean was grumpy, you probably just caught him on the hop.
See also: catch, hop, on
caught on the hop
Caught unawares or in a state of unpreparedness. Please forgive my distracted attention—I'm afraid I was caught on the hop by your sudden arrival. Terry hadn't prepared anything to say at the reception, so he found himself caught on the hop when they asked him to say a few words.
See also: caught, hop, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- catch (one) on the hop
- catch somebody on the hop
- catch someone on the hop
- catch at a bad time
- catch (one) at a bad time
- be busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest
- contest
- legged
- have enough on (one's) plate
- have enough on your plate