caught napping
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fiji were rocked and following a speculative Hawkins kick, Ravutaumada was inexplicably caught napping by Adams as he picked the pocket of his opposite number to score.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
Levante pulled level in the 21st minute as Atletico were caught napping at a corner and Sanchez nodded home at the back post after he was left completely unmarked.
From Barron's ● Nov. 8, 2025
Central banks had been "caught napping" with respect to inflation and would have to raise interest rates more aggressively as a result, extending equity market turmoil, the head of Australia's sovereign fund said on Wednesday.
From Reuters ● Aug. 31, 2022
But in the 44th minute, after Nico Lodeiro lost the ball because he didn’t see Nashville’s Randall Leal sneak up behind him, the Sounders’ back line was caught napping.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2022
The police, whenever my mother forebode, would indeed come, and many of the men of the yard would be caught napping, surrendering themselves with lamblike submission.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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