The thief was caught red-handed stealing from the store.
off guard
Frequency:
70
%
The surprise attack caught the soldiers off guard.
by surprise
Frequency:
60
%
The sudden thunderstorm caught us by surprise during our picnic.
in a lie
Frequency:
50
%
She was caught in a lie when her alibi didn't add up.
Idiomatic Expressions for caught
Phrase: caught off guard
Meaning: to be surprised or unprepared for something
Usage: The sudden question caught him off guard, and he struggled to come up with an answer.