Synonyms for off-guard
- asleep
- asleep on the job
- daydreaming
- flat-footed
- inattentive
- napping
- spaced out
- unalert
- unready
- unsuspecting
- unvigilant
- unwatchful
- zoned out
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR OFF-GUARD
I wouldn't trust myself with you one minute off-guard like that.
In his mind was the conviction that we had pretended to be harmless animals so that we could catch him off-guard and kill him.
Stillman knew at once that her ill-temper had caught her off-guard and she was already trying to crawl slowly back into his favor.
WORD ORIGIN
early 15c., "one who keeps watch," from Middle French garde "guardian, warden, keeper; watching, keeping, custody," from Old French garder "to keep, maintain, preserve, protect" (corresponding to Old North French warder, see gu-), from Frankish *wardon, from Proto-Germanic *wardo- "to guard" (see ward (v.)). Abstract or collective sense of "a keeping, a custody" (as in bodyguard) also is from early 15c. Sword-play and fisticuffs sense is from 1590s. Guard-rail attested from 1860.
MORE RELATED WORDS FOR OFF-GUARD
inattentive
adjectivenegligent, not paying attention- absent
- absentminded
- apathetic
- blind
- bored
- careless
- distracted
- distrait
- distraught
- diverted
- dreamy
- faraway
- heedless
- inadvertent
- indifferent
- inobservant
- listless
- lost
- musing
- neglectful
- oblivious
- off-guard
- out to lunch
- preoccupied
- rapt
- regardless
- remiss
- removed
- scatterbrained
- thoughtless
- unconscious
- undiscerning
- unheeding
- unmindful
- unnoticing
- unobservant
- unobserving
- unperceiving
- unthinking
- unwatchful
- vague