unaware

caught unawares

To be surprised by someone or something. A: "Oh man, I was totally caught unawares when your mother showed up here this morning." B: "I figured as much when she told me that you answered the door in your robe and curlers!"
See also: caught, unawares
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

caught unaware(s)

surprised and unprepared. Sorry. You startled me when you came up behind me. I was caught unaware. The clerk was caught unawares, and the robber emptied out the cash register before the clerk could sound the alarm.
See also: caught, unaware
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • catch/take somebody unawares
  • caught unaware
  • caught unawares
  • unawares
  • footed
  • be caught on the hop
  • flat-footed, to be caught/catch
  • be caught flat-footed
  • catch (one) by surprise
  • twist (something) off of (something)
References in periodicals archive
The Vice Chancellor said the awareness campaign aims to educate, influence national screening policies and encourage more people to get tested with the hope of finding the unaware cases and reducing the further spread of Hepatitis.
Participants who were diagnosed but unaware of their diagnosis had less education, attended visits alone more often and had fewer functional impairments.
"Sometimes, even the dhow owners are unaware of such things.
Consistent with the military judge's instructions to select one theory of AN Sager's knowledge of the alleged victim's condition, the worksheet set apart by parentheses "knew" from "reasonably should have known." The members selected "reasonably should have known." Although the military judge never directed the members to select a theory of the alleged victim's condition while the sexual act was occurring-that he was "asleep," "unconscious," or "otherwise unaware"--the format of the findings worksheet suggested that they should.
It appears most Huddersfield motorists haven't taken this on board, with 62% still unaware of the legal drink-driving limit in England and Wales.
The study also found 46% of those surveyed were unaware the risk of developing dementia can be reduced.
Newly formed British challenger bank Aldermore on Tuesday reported new research which showed that the majority of British adults are unaware of important changes which could affect their savings habits.
Additionally, women were found more likely to be unaware of the different types of cyber threats.
A NATIONAL charity has warned that people in the North East are unaware of the dangers of kidney disease.
Canley-based YourVets say many owners are unaware that their pet is an unhealthy weight.
A new study of more than 2,000 people revealed 90% were unaware it's 6g.
People obviously are unaware of the war-mongering make-up of Japan's armed forces which set off to conquer and enslave vast tracts of the Far East.
Discovering that it's alien in origin, a psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) tries to protect her son, unaware that he could hold the key to saving mankind from extinction.
Summary: The wife of a Syrian man who was killed when a bomb exploded in his apartment north of Beirut told interrogators Wednesday she was unaware of her husband's activity with explosives.