Wiktionary
a. Not vigilant; unprepared; inattentive. adv. unexpectedly or by surprise alt. Not vigilant; unprepared; inattentive.
WordNet
adj. not prepared or vigilant; "the blow caught him napping"; "caught in an off-guard moment"; "found him off his guard" [syn: napping, off-guard(a), off guard(p), off one's guard(p), off his guard, off her guard, off your guard]
Usage examples of "off guard".
Both the mercenaries and those stinking creatures knew exactly how best to catch us off guard.
The pain had caught Peter off guard and his face must have given away his secret knowledge, for Fargo swore.
During the day-time, the nine thousand who are off guard do not, however quit the palace, unless when employed upon the service of his majesty, or when the individuals are called away for their domestic concerns, in which case they must obtain leave of absence through their commanding officer.
I have the same power that all Barsoomians have of being able to read the mind of another when he happens to be off guard.
General Dwight David Eisenhower was in command of the high--stakes operation, which--astoundingly-caught the Germans off guard.
Johan was caught off guard when Heinrich pushed him out of the way.
The entire story might be a complicated lie to confuse and throw me off guard.
For once he had lain down to rest and had wakened on his feet, heading back as if that compulsion had the power to take over his body when his waking will was off guard.
Uriel was caught off guard by her barrage of questions and accusations.
Caught completely off guard, his conscious mind temporarily suspended function.
And after we'd looted the town together, he'd wipe me out the first time he caught me off guard.
He had been caught off guard in the presence of his allies and senior deputies.
Besides, Eon and his officers were confident that prepared and ready Axumite marines could overwhelm any Malwa garrison caught off guard during monsoon season.