off-guard

adjunprepared
advwhen not paying attention

Synonyms for off-guard

adj unprepared

Word Origin & History

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.

Example Sentences 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.

off-guard

Synonyms for off-guard

More words related to off-guard

inattentive