catch someone off guard; take by surprise
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to catch someone unprepared; to take by surprise
neutralA military and strategic idiom, also used in everyday situations to describe surprising actions.
Yóu游
jī击
duì队
shàn善
yú于
chū出
qí其
bù不
yì意
de地
xí袭
jī击
dí敌
rén人
。
The guerrilla forces are skilled at attacking the enemy by surprise.
Tā他
zài在
huì会
yì议
shàng上
chū出
qí其
bù不
yì意
de地
xuān宣
bù布
le了
cí辞
zhí职
。
He unexpectedly announced his resignation at the meeting.
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Zhè这
yī一
zhāo招
qí棋
xià下
de得
chū出
qí其
bù不
yì意
，
ràng让
duì对
shǒu手
cuò措
shǒu手
bù不
jí及
。
This move was made with surprise, leaving the opponent unprepared.
Tā她
sòng送
gěi给
tā他
yī一
fèn份
chū出
qí其
bù不
yì意
de的
shēng生
rì日
lǐ礼
wù物
。
She gave him a surprise birthday present.