noun a state of being unprepared or caught by surprise
adjective not prepared or alert
Soldiers must always be on guard, so being caught off guard can be dangerous.
A team that is caught off guard by their opponent's strategy may struggle to recover.
Police officers need to stay alert to avoid being caught off guard during a dangerous situation.
Emergency responders must be prepared for any situation to prevent being caught off guard.
Security guards need to be vigilant to avoid being caught off guard by potential threats.
In a professional context, a writer may use the phrase 'off guard' to describe a character being caught off guard by a sudden plot twist in a story.
A psychologist may use the term 'off guard' when discussing the importance of being aware of potential triggers that could catch a patient off guard during therapy sessions.
A salesperson may use the phrase 'off guard' when referring to a customer who is unexpectedly resistant to a sales pitch or unprepared for a sales presentation.
A police officer may use the term 'off guard' to describe a situation where they were caught off guard by a suspect's sudden actions or behavior during an arrest.
A teacher may use the phrase 'off guard' when talking about a student who is unexpectedly disruptive or uncooperative in the classroom, catching them off guard.